Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B & More Win Big At The 2026 American Music Awards.
The 2026 American Music Awards officially took place on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and hip-hop and R&B artists had a huge night.
While BTS grabbed headlines by winning Artist of the Year, many rap and R&B stars also walked away with major awards during the night.
Kendrick Lamar won Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, beating names like Don Toliver, Tyler, The Creator, Playboi Carti, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Big congrats to @KendrickLamar for winning Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the #AMAs 👏 pic.twitter.com/ovVDFQT4cM
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) May 26, 2026
Meanwhile, Cardi B dominated the female hip-hop categories. She won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best Hip-Hop Song for “ErrTime,” and Best Hip-Hop Album for “AM I THE DRAMA?”. The wins continue Cardi’s strong comeback year after recently leading the 2026 BET Awards nominations as well.
💿 #AMAs Best Hip Hop Album
🏆 Winner: AM I THE DRAMA? by @iamcardib pic.twitter.com/aF6v8lhvfc— American Music Awards (@AMAs) May 26, 2026
Another big winner from the night was SZA, who took home Best Female R&B Artist. Bruno Mars also had a huge night, winning Best Male R&B Artist, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album. Fans online also celebrated wins for newer artists like Monaleo and Leon Thomas, who both won breakthrough awards in their genres.
She did that 💅 @sza is taking home the #AMAs for Best Female R&B Artist! pic.twitter.com/3Mik5lu6mz
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) May 26, 2026
One of the most surprising moments of the night came from Taylor Swift. Even though she entered the ceremony with the most nominations, she left the show without winning any awards.
Read more: 2026 BET Awards Nominations Announced: Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar Dominates
The event was hosted by Queen Latifah, who returned to the AMAs stage nearly three decades after co-hosting the ceremony back in 1995.
Outside of hip-hop and R&B, BTS had one of the biggest nights overall. The group won Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer for “Swim,” while also opening the show with a performance of “Hooligan.”
The 2026 AMAs once again showed how dominant hip-hop and R&B continue to be in mainstream music culture.
Full list of winners from the 2026 American Music Awards.
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Bruno Mars
BTS – WINNER 🏆
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Katseye – WINNER 🏆
Leon Thomas
Olivia Dean
sombr
Album of the Year
Cardi B — Am I the Drama?
Fuerza Regida — 111xpantia
Justin Bieber — Swag
Lady Gaga — Mayhem
Morgan Wallen — I’m the Problem
Playboi Carti — Music
Sabrina Carpenter — Man’s Best Friend – WINNER 🏆
Tate McRae — So Close to What
Taylor Swift — The Life of a Showgirl
Song of the Year
Alex Warren — “Ordinary”
Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
EJAE, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami — “Golden” – WINNER 🏆
Kehlani — “Folded”
HIP-HOP CATEGORIES
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Don Toliver
Kendrick Lamar – WINNER 🏆
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B – WINNER 🏆
Doechii
GloRilla
Sexyy Red
YKNIECE
Best Hip-Hop Song
Cardi B — “ErrTime” – WINNER 🏆
Drake — “NOKIA”
Gunna, Burna Boy — “wgft”
Playboi Carti, The Weeknd — “Rather Lie”
YKNIECE, Quavo, Metro Boomin, Breskii — “Take Me Thru Dere”
Best Hip-Hop Album
Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA? – WINNER 🏆
Don Toliver – OCTANE
Gunna – The Last Wun
Playboi Carti – MUSIC
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – MASA
R&B Categories
Best Male R&B Artist
Bruno Mars – WINNER 🏆
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Best Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Summer Walker
SZA – WINNER 🏆
Teyana Taylor
Tyla
Breakthrough R&B Artist
Leon Thomas – WINNER 🏆
Mariah the Scientist
Ravyn Lenae
Best R&B Song
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – WINNER 🏆
Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
Mariah the Scientist – “BURNING BLUE”
Best R&B Album
Bruno Mars – The Romantic – WINNER 🏆
Justin Bieber – SWAG
Leon Thomas – MUTT
Mariah the Scientist – HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY
Summer Walker – Finally Over It
