BTS once again demonstrated their unrivaled global influence after making history at the 2026 American Music Awards. The group took home the prestigious “Artist of the Year” trophy, becoming the first and only Asian group to win the ceremony’s top award multiple times.
Held in Las Vegas, the 2026 AMAs brought together some of the biggest names in global music. Despite fierce competition against artists including Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber and Kendrick Lamar, BTS emerged victorious in the fan-voted category.
This marks the group’s second win as “Artist of the Year” following their groundbreaking win in 2021, when they became the first Asian artist to claim the award.
The historic achievement did not stop there. BTS also secured “Favorite K-Pop Male Group” and won “Song of the Summer” with SWIM, a track from their latest studio album ARIRANG. The group’s highly anticipated return from military service quickly reignited global excitement, returning them to the center of the international music industry.
During his acceptance speech, leader RM expressed sincere gratitude to fans around the world.
“It is a true honor to receive this award again after all seven of us have completed our military service. Our greatest thanks always go to the ARMYs for standing by our side for the past 13 years.” RM shared emotionally.
J-Hope also revealed how touched the members were by the overwhelming support for their new album, while Jin, Jimin and Jungkook repeatedly thanked ARMY for helping the group reach unprecedented heights around the world.
The latest win further extends BTS’ remarkable legacy in the US music market. Since first winning the title of “Favorite Social Artist” at the AMAs in 2018, the group has consistently broken barriers and garnered major accolades including “Favorite Pop Duo or Group,” “Favorite K-Pop Artist,” and “Tour of the Year.”
Notably, BTS previously dominated the “Favorite Pop Duo or Group” category with four consecutive wins from 2019 to 2022 – an unprecedented feat for an Asian group at the American Music Awards.
Their comeback in 2026 was also hailed as one of the biggest comebacks in K-pop history. After completing their military service last year, the group returned with the new album ARIRANG, a documentary project and a massive world tour of 82 shows in 34 cities.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts, maintaining its strong performance for several consecutive weeks.
Currently, BTS continues their sold-out concerts in Las Vegas before returning to South Korea for upcoming performances in Busan. The group will also continue to tour across Europe and will reportedly prepare for a special halftime show during the FIFA World Cup in the United States.
After more than a decade in the industry, BTS has evolved far beyond the image of a successful K-pop group. Their repeated triumphs at America’s largest music awards ceremonies solidify their status as a truly global phenomenon, continuing to reshape how the world views Korean music and Asian artists in general.
