Photo Cr. American Music Awards on X
K-pop made its presence impossible to ignore at the 2026 American Music Awards 2026 on May 25, with artists across multiple generations and even fictional K-pop acts taking home some of the night’s biggest honors. From BTS winning the top award of the night to TWICE, KATSEYE, and Huntr/X scoring major victories, the AMAs reflected K-pop’s growing influence in the global mainstream music industry.
BTS Makes a Grand Return to the AMAs
Leading the night was BTS, who made a triumphant return to the AMAs by winning Artist of the Year — one of the ceremony’s most prestigious awards. The group also won Best Male K-pop Artist and Song of the Summer for their hit “Swim,” completing a clean sweep of all three categories they were nominated in.
Their wins marked a major milestone following the group’s long-awaited reunion after military enlistments. During the ceremony, BTS also appeared in a pre-recorded performance segment and received roaring support from fans both in attendance and online.
TWICE Continues Their Global Reign
Veteran girl group TWICE added another international achievement to their growing legacy by winning Best Female K-pop Group at the 2026 AMAs. The award further solidifies TWICE’s staying power as one of K-pop’s most successful girl groups in the global market.
Over the past few years, TWICE has consistently expanded their international reach through world tours, English-language releases, and sold-out stadium performances, making their AMA recognition another important moment in their career.
Huntr/X and “Golden” Dominate Major Categories
Huntr/X, the fictional group connected to Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack continued their award show reign. Their song “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, won Song of the Year at the AMAs.
The track also picked up additional wins including Best Pop Song and Best Vocal Performance, turning “Golden” into one of the most awarded songs from the year.
The success of “Golden” highlights how K-pop-inspired media and soundtrack projects are increasingly crossing into mainstream music spaces alongside traditional artists.
Global girl group KATSEYE co-managed by HYBE and Geffen Records continued their meteoric rise by winning New Artist of the Year, at the 2026 American Music Awards. The group also earned recognition in multiple pop categories and delivered a performance of “Pinky Up” during the show.
KATSEYE ultimately walked away with three awards during the night, including Breakthrough Pop Artist and Best Music Video and cementing them as one of the biggest breakout acts.
Their success reflects the increasing globalization of K-pop-inspired acts and training, blending international members, multilingual music, and worldwide fanbases into a new generation of pop stardom.
A Historic Night for K-pop
The 2026 AMAs demonstrated just how deeply K-pop has become embedded in the global mainstream music landscape. Established legends like BTS and TWICE shared the spotlight with rising acts like KATSEYE and even projects like Huntr/X, proving that Korean pop culture continues to evolve far beyond traditional boundaries.
