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The 52nd Annual American Music Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, with BTS, KATSEYE, Sombr, Karol G and Maluma among the artists who will appear and perform at the ceremony hosted by Queen Latifah. The 2026 AMAs will air at 5pm PT/8pm ET on CBS, which can be streamed live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial) and Hulu + Live TV.
Tonight’s awards ceremony will also be broadcast live on Paramount+ Premium (formerly Paramount+ with Showtime), but the streamer does no Offer a free trial. While Paramount+ Essential subscribers won’t be able to watch the concert live, they will will Be able to access it on demand the next day.
At a glance: How to watch the 2026 American Music Awards
- date: Monday, May 26, 2026
- time: 5 PM PT/8 PM ET
- TV channel: CBS
- Live broadcast online: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV, Paramount+
Where to watch the 2026 American Music Awards
This year’s AMAs are broadcast live on CBS, and viewers can watch the awards show on television through their local CBS affiliate and with any basic cable package.
How to stream the 2026 American Music Awards online for free
There are also a number of ways to stream the awards ceremony live without cable, including some ways to watch it online for free.
Since the AMAs air on CBS, streamers can stream the show live on any streaming TV service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial) and Hulu + Live TV. The AMAs will also be streamed live on Paramount+ Premium, whoever the streamer is no Offer a free trial.
Learn more about each option (and their free trials) below.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
Paramount+
Packages start at $8.99 per month
Paramount+ is the official streaming home of the 2026 AMAs, and the streamer will carry a live stream of the CBS broadcast that you can watch online without needing cable.
While Paramount+ packages start at $8.99 per month (or $89.99 per year) for the ad-supported Basic plan, subscribers will need the Paramount+ Premium plan for $13.99 per month (or $139.99 per year) in order to live stream the awards show. The Premium package is ad-free, except for live TV and some shows. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will be able to stream the show the day after it goes live.
Related to: The best Paramount+ deals and free trial hacks
Fubo
Five-day free trial; Packages start at $55.99 per month ($45.99 for the first month)
Watch CBS by subscribing to Fubo, which offers a free five-day trial to new subscribers. After the trial period, plans start at $45.99 for the first month and $55.99 per month after that.
Will BTS perform at the AMAs?
BTS will appear at the awards ceremony, marking the group’s first appearance at an awards ceremony in four years. However, while they will take the stage, it is not clear whether they will perform or not. The group is in Las Vegas for the Arirang World Tour, which is why it makes sense for them to hop over to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the concert. But they’re probably just giving away an award or appearing to promote their new album and tour.
American Music Awards 2026 Performers
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Billy Idol and International Artist of Excellence Award recipient Karol Gee are scheduled to perform, as is Voice of Veterans Award winner Darius Rucker, along with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates. Other artists include Katsi, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, The Pussycat Dolls (with Busta Rhymes), Riley Green, Somber, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and Twenty One Pilots. As they kick off their concert series in Vegas, BTS will make a special appearance on the AMAs stage.
Nominees for the 2026 American Music Awards
Taylor Swift leads the 2026 AMA nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Deen, and Sombre with seven nods each. Swift, Wallen, and Carpenter, as well as Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, BTS, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga, are in the running for Artist of the Year.
See the full list of nominees for the 2026 American Music Awards here.
American Music Awards 2026 Presenters
2026 AMA presenters include Alyssa Liu, Anthony Ramos, Ejay and Rey Amy, Gabrielle “Fluffy” Iglesias, Hannah Berner, Hilary Duff, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lisa Rinna, Ludacris, Mariah Alem, Matt Rife, Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Melanie Martinez, Nikki Glaser, Paula Abdul, Russell Dickerson, Gloriella, Busta Rhymes and Leon Thomas.
