This year’s show, hosted by Queen Latifah, delivered plenty of nostalgia.

The best and worst moments from the 2026 American Music Awards

This year's show, hosted by Queen Latifah, delivered plenty of nostalgia.

By Jason Lamphier

Jason Lamphier is a senior editor at who covers news and music. Before joining EW, he was an editor at The New York Observer, Out, and Interview.

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and Kathleen Perricone

on May 26, 2026 12:40 a.m. ET

Ludacris and Queen Latifah at the 2026 AMAs; Billy Idol performs at the 2026 AMAs. Credit:

CBS; Ethan Miller/Getty

The 2026 American Music Awards rocked the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday night, thanks to some of the biggest names in pop, rock, country, and hip-hop.

The show, hosted by Queen Latifah, (opened with a performance from BTS and was packed with appearances by new artists and icons alike, including Sombr, Katseye, Karol G, Teyana Taylor, Hootie & the Blowfish, Pussycat Dolls, New Kids on the Block, and Billy Idol.**** Despite the star-studded lineup, there were still a few sour notes during the world's largest fan-voted awards show. Check out the best and worst moments from the 2026 AMAs below.

(And don't forget to take a peek at the best and worst looks from the red carpet.)

BEST: Nikki Glaser ribs the Best Rock/Alternative nominees

Nikki Glaser on stage at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Ethan Miller/Getty

The hodgepodge of artists up for the ceremony's first award of the night — '90s ska punks Sublime, controversial country star Zach Bryan, Tame Impala doing disco-pop — was such a head-scratcher that it left us begging for TPTB to finally just retire the term "alternative." Rock-lite soft boy Sombr won, but who cares? Presenter Nikki Glaser was the real winner here, razzing the nominees with pitch-perfect one-liners like, "I listen to Noah Kahan when I'm horny in Vermont." Can she just present every award ever? *—Jason Lamphier*

BEST: Hootie & the Blowfish return to the AMAs

Hootie & the Blowfish perform at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Francis Specker/CBS via Getty

It's been 30 years since Hootie & the Blowfish were named Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist at the American Music Awards, but it felt like 1996 all over again on Monday night when the band performed two of their greatest hits, "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna Be With You." They even had Katseye — who weren't even alive during Hootie's heyday — dancing in the audience!

Lead singer Darius Rucker was also honored later in the show with the Veterans Voice Award, which recognizes artists who use their platforms to create meaningful change in the lives of military veterans, a fitting distinction this Memorial Day.

"We should be striving to become a community and become a country that we deserve what they sacrificed," Rucker said in his acceptance speech. "So tonight, I want us all to be as loud as we can and yell and use our voices to let these folks know that we love them and we thank them and we appreciate them." *—Kathleen Perricone*

WORST: Presenting Song of the Year so early

Rei Ami and Ejae accept Best Song of the Year at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Ethan Miller/Getty

There must be some logical explanation for an awards show handing out one of its biggest trophies of the night within the first 30 minutes of the telecast. Did presenter Paula Abdul have dinner plans? Did CBS wanna throw their key-demo boomers a bone before they nodded off? On the bright side, at least the always gracious, totally deserving ladies of Huntr/x took home the prize for "Golden." That was a victory well worth the *not-*wait. —*J.L.*

BEST: Queen Latifah leads a Goo Goo Dolls sing-along with John Rzeznik

John Rzeznik and Queen Latifah at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Ethan Miller/Getty

The Goo Goo Dolls' chart-topping "Iris" may have lost Best Throwback Song (to "Rock That Body" by Black Eyed Peas), but the 1998 rock ballad got its flowers during a heartfelt moment earlier in the ceremony. After Twenty One Pilots won Best Rock/Alternative Artist, Queen Latifah ventured out into the crowd, stopping to chat with Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik about the band's nominated song.

"Come on, ya'll know it," she told the audience, leading a sing-along of 16,000 people all belting out "'Cuz I don't want the world to see me…"

Later, Queen Latifah spotted Ludacris in the crowd and got everyone going once again by singing a lyric from his hit song "Stand Up" — "When I move you move..." Luda and the crowd played along by replying "just like that."*—K.P.*

BEST: The Pussycat Dolls in red latex

The Pussycat Dolls (Kimberly Wyatt, Nicole Scherzinger, and Ashley Roberts) perform at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Ethan Miller/Getty

There were no buttons to loosen up for the Pussycat Dolls at the American Music Awards. The newly reunited trio — Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, and Kimberly Wyatt — got pulses racing in red latex for a musical medley. It was PCD's first appearance at the AMAs in 20 years, and they made up for lost time by performing three of their biggest hits, "Buttons," "When I Grow Up," and "Don't Cha," as well as their brand new single, "Club Song." Busta Rhymes joined the ladies for** "Don't Cha," though he was wearing red leather, not latex. *—K.P.*

BEST: Fergie reunites with the Black Eyed Peas

Apl.de.ap, Will.i.am, Fergie, and Taboo at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Ethan Miller/Getty

Eight years after departing the Peas, Fergie took the stage with her former cohorts Will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.ap to accept the award for Best Throwback Song for 2010's "Rock That Body," beating out 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up" and Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" in one of the night's biggest shockers.

"What a moment,” the singer marveled, and it was — marking the group's first major outing together since she stepped away to focus on raising her kid, Axl. The fact that Fergie gave him a shout-out in their speech — "I want to thank everyone who made TikToks and Instagram videos and making this moment possible so that my son would put our song on his playlist” — made the crew's homecoming that much sweeter. —*J.L.*

WORST: Fergie didn’t do any cartwheels

Fergie poses in the press room at the 2026 American Music Awards.

David Becker/Getty

Yes, she looked glamorous, flossy, flossy, etc. But here we are, still waiting for a reenactment of one of the most unhinged performances of the 2000s. Lady, get flippin'! *—J.L.*

WORST: NKOTB’s way-too-short performance

New Kids on the Block performs on stage at the 2026 AMAs.

VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty

One song is hardly enough for *the* New Kids on the Block. The '80s boy band's legacy begs for a medley of greatest hits, but to the dismay of Blockheads everywhere, NKOTB's moment on the AMAs stage was limited to only a performance of their 1988 single, "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" — completely ignoring countless other fan favorites like "Hangin' Tough," "Step by Step," "Please Don't Go Girl," and "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)." On the plus side, the Boston quintet, whose oldest member Jonathan Knight is 57, graced us with their iconic "Right Stuff" footwork. *—K.P.*

WORST: A Hacks cameo that was sorta… hacky

Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Ethan Miller/Getty

*Hacks* stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs have turned in some of the finest comedic performances of the decade. So why did the dynamic duo's bit while presenting the award for Best Rock/Alternative Album feel so random and fall so flat? Look, we weren't expecting some kind of crazy cocaine boofing moment (this is CBS, people). But half-baked jokes about boob jobs and teaching the youth what a television show is just ain't it. Schaeffer & LuSaque, you're better than this. *—J.L.*

BEST: BTS rule the 2026 AMAs

BTS wins Artist of the Year at the 2026 AMAs.

VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty

From start to finish, the American Music Awards were all about BTS — and their screaming fans loved every minute of it. Making their first awards show appearance in four years, the South Korean boy band kicked off the show with "Hooligan," off their new album *Arirang*, in a pre-taped performance from their concert the night before at Allegiant Stadium. All seven members then reappeared at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to more screams, where they presented Best Female R&B Artist to SZA, won both Song of the Summer (for "Swim") and Best Male K-Pop Artist, and took home the ceremony's top honor, Artist of the Year. *—K.P.*

BEST: Billy Idol’s big finale

Billy Idol performs at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Ethan Miller/Getty

Now *this *is how you end an awards show. Accepting the final honor of the night, the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, 70-year-old punk rocker Billy Idol hit all the right notes. His speech was heartfelt ("I've been able to live my dream, and it's really all because of you") and inspiring ("find out who you are and be it"). His signature spiky blond hair and fit were fire (Billy, pink is your friend). And most important of all, he closed out the ceremony with a kick-ass medley of two of his classics: "Eyes Without a Face" and the unimpeachable "Dancing With Myself," which had attendees young and old tearing through the aisles.

Even better? We'll get to enjoy him more, more, more when he's inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November. *—J.L.*

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