BTS just became the first Korean act to win “Artist of the Year” at the American Music Awards twice — a feat no other non‑Western group has ever achieved.

BTS accepts Artist of the Year, their [second] time rewriting AMA history.  
Credit: Billboard  


Their second grand prize came on May 25, 2026, at the 52nd AMAs in Las Vegas. The seven members walked onstage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to accept the award, competing against names like Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga. The victory wasn’t just symbolic. It was backed by hard data: nominees were chosen using Billboard and Luminate metrics — streaming numbers, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, and tour revenue — collected between March 21, 2025, and March 26, 2026. In other words, BTS didn’t just win hearts; they won the numbers game.

The group also picked up “Song of the Summer” for Swim, the Billboard Hot 100‑topping single from their comeback album Arirang. That track, with its sharp production and layered vocals, marked their return to the top of U.S. charts after a five‑year gap in AMA appearances. Their live performance of Hooligan opened the show, a reminder of how seamlessly they blend spectacle with precision.

This latest win adds to a growing collection: BTS now holds 12 AMA trophies across both group and solo activities. Their first came in 2018 with “Favorite Social Artist,” a category they dominated through 2020. By 2019, they had already claimed “Tour of the Year” and “Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock,” the latter for four consecutive years. In 2021, they achieved a triple crown — “Artist of the Year,” “Favorite Duo or Group,” and “Favorite Pop Song.” In 2022, they became the inaugural winners of “Favorite K‑Pop Artist,” a category RM later won solo in 2025.

Taylor Swift, despite leading the 2026 nominations with eight nods, left empty‑handed. That contrast underscored the shifting balance of global pop power. BTS, once outsiders in the U.S. awards circuit, now stand as repeat winners of its highest honor. As Billboard noted, their rise reflects not just fandom but measurable dominance across every metric the industry tracks.

The implications are clear. BTS has crossed a threshold where their success is no longer framed as “K‑Pop breaking into America.” It’s simply pop at the highest level, competing — and winning — against the biggest names in the world. Their trajectory suggests that future award shows may look less like a U.S. showcase and more like a global scoreboard, where language and origin matter less than reach and resonance.

And if history is any guide, BTS won’t stop here. Their record now forces the question: how many times can one group redefine what global dominance looks like in music?


Sources: Billboard, MSN, allkpop