52nd American Music Awards to Air Live from Las Vegas on May 25 on CBS and Paramount+
The American Music Awards will return for its 52nd edition with a live broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, 2026. The highly anticipated ceremony will air coast-to-coast at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on CBS and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+. Taking place on Memorial Day, the event is expected to once again bring together some of the biggest names in music for a night celebrating the year’s most influential artists and songs.
The 2026 ceremony will highlight outstanding achievements across multiple genres and generations of artists, while delivering the unforgettable performances and special moments that have become a hallmark of the awards show. The AMAs are unique among major music awards because winners are largely determined by fan engagement, which includes streaming numbers, album and song sales, radio airplay, and touring data tracked through the charts published by Billboard.
Official nominations for this year’s awards will be revealed on Tuesday, April 14. On the same day, fan voting will open, giving audiences around the world the opportunity to support their favorite artists. Voting will remain open until Friday, May 8, allowing fans to play a major role in deciding who will take home trophies at the ceremony.
The previous edition of the American Music Awards drew significant attention from viewers, reaching more than 10 million unique viewers across its premiere on CBS and Paramount+. Additional encore broadcasts aired on networks including MTV, CMT, and BET. The CBS telecast marked the largest audience for the show since 2019 and represented a 38 percent increase compared to its last live broadcast in 2022 on ABC.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming ceremony, more announcements regarding performers, presenters, special honorees, and ticket availability are expected in the coming weeks. With its combination of fan participation, live music, and star-studded appearances, the 52nd American Music Awards is set to deliver another memorable celebration of today’s music industry.
Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to stream the event live through the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the platform and watch it on demand afterward. Subscribers to the Paramount+ Essential plan will not have access to the live broadcast but will be able to stream the show on demand the day after it airs.