K-pop Artists to Watch: 2026 American Music Awards

K-pop artists are poised for a significant presence at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs), showcasing the genre’s immense global appeal. From global superstars BTS to rising group Katseye, and solo artist Jennie, K-pop acts have secured multiple nominations across the ceremony’s most prestigious categories, demonstrating their growing influence in mainstream music.

The nominations, unveiled on May 14, reveal that K-pop sensation BTS has earned three significant nods. These include the coveted ‘Artist of the Year’ – considered the ceremony’s ultimate honor – ‘Best Male K-pop Artist,’ and ‘Song of the Summer’ for their hit track “Swim,” the lead single from their fifth LP, “Arirang.” This marks BTS’s second time vying for ‘Artist of the Year,’ following their historic win in 2021 as the first Korean act to achieve this accolade. This year, they will compete against music titans like Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, and Harry Styles. Fans are also eagerly anticipating BTS’s in-person appearance at the AMAs, which will be their first at the ceremony in five years.

Breakout stars Katseye, the highly anticipated global girl group formed through the Hybe x Geffen Records partnership, have also made a significant splash. They are nominated for ‘New Artist of the Year,’ competing with talents such as Alex Warren, Ella Langley, Leon Thomas, Sombr, and Olivia Dean. Additionally, Katseye received nods for ‘Breakthrough Pop Artist’ and ‘Best Music Video’ for their popular track “Gnarly.” The burgeoning group is also slated to perform live at the AMAs, sharing the stage with artists like Twenty One Pilots, Riley Green, Sombr, and Teddy Swims. Despite debuting less than two years ago, this rookie act has rapidly cultivated a devoted global fanbase across North America, Latin America, and Europe. Their impressive chart performance includes three songs — “Gabriela,” “Internet Girl,” and “Gnarly” — reaching Billboard’s Hot 100. Their most recent release, “Pinky Up,” secured the 76th spot on the chart dated May 23, extending its impressive run to five weeks.

K-pop’s expanding influence this year transcends traditional idol groups, reaching new frontiers. Netflix’s animated feature film, ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ garnered a nomination for ‘Best Soundtrack.’ Furthermore, the fictional girl group Huntrix, from the movie, saw their song ‘Golden’ nominated for ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Best Pop Song,’ and ‘Best Vocal Performance.’ Solo artist Jennie also earned a prestigious nomination for ‘Song of the Summer’ with her acclaimed remix collaboration, “Dracula,” featuring Tame Impala, placing her alongside BTS’s “Swim” in the competitive category.

Anticipation is high for fierce competition within the dedicated K-pop categories this year. The ‘Best Male K-pop Artist’ award will see BTS go head-to-head with Stray Kids, Ateez, Enhypen, and Tomorrow X Together. In the ‘Best Female K-pop Artist’ category, nominees include Aespa, Blackpink, Illit, Le Sserafim, and Twice. Hybe Labels artists have showcased a particularly dominant presence across the nominations. Aside from BTS and Katseye, groups like Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen, Illit, and Le Sserafim have all received significant recognition. Hybe America’s wider roster also boasts nominations, with artists such as Quavo, BigXthaPlug, and Tyla earning nods in hip-hop, country, R&B, and Afrobeats categories, further solidifying Hybe’s broad industry impact.

Distinct from many industry-voted music awards, the AMA nominations are uniquely driven by comprehensive fan engagement metrics, encompassing streaming figures, album sales, radio airplay, and tour revenue. This methodology ensures the results accurately reflect global fan consumption trends and preferences. The 52nd American Music Awards ceremony is scheduled for May 25, local time, at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. For viewers in Korea, the event will be broadcast on May 26 at 9 a.m. KST, available via the streaming platform Paramount+ and CBS.