Stray Kids have earned their second consecutive nomination at the American Music Awards, securing a spot in the newly formed “Best Male K-Pop Artist” category for the 2026 ceremony.
The American Music Awards released the full list of nominees for this year’s show on April 14 (local time), confirming that Stray Kids will compete in the Best Male K-Pop Artist category when the event takes place on May 25 in Las Vegas.
The group is nominated alongside fellow boy bands ATEEZ, BTS, ENHYPEN and TXT, underscoring how competitive the field has become as K-pop’s presence continues to grow on the US music scene, according to Allkpop.
All AMA winners are chosen via fan voting based on streaming, sales, radio airplay and touring data, with voting for the 2026 edition open on the awards show’s official website and Instagram until May 8.
Consecutive appearance in AMA voting
This year’s recognition marks Stray Kids’ second consecutive appearance on the AMA ballot, following their 2025 nomination in the broader Favorite K-Pop Artist category.
In addition to their recognition as nominees, the eight-member group has already made AMA history: They were invited to perform during the 50th anniversary special of the American Music Awards in 2024, becoming only the second K-pop group ever to take the stage at the long-running U.S. awards show.
Korean media noted that their latest nomination solidifies Stray Kids’ image as a “global top artist” with a rapidly growing international fan base, Yonhap news agency reported.
Stray Kids’ rise at the AMAs mirrors their strong performance on the US charts. With their 2022 mini album “ODDINARY,” the group debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and they have since sent a string of releases to the top of the main album chart, including more recent projects like “SKZ IT TAPE: DO IT.”
According to local reports, this streak of eight consecutive No. 1 entries on the Billboard 200 is unprecedented in the chart’s 70-year history, further strengthening the group’s profile in the global market.
The 2026 American Music Awards will air live on May 25 at 8pm ET (5pm PT), with the trophy for Best Male K-Pop Artist set to highlight K-pop’s expanding footprint within one of the three major popular music awards shows in the United States, along with the Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards, according to Khan Sports.
