BTS delivers a triumphant return following military service, graciously thanking ARMYs for their unwavering support over 13 years while celebrating the fan-voted victory as a testament to the power of global fandom unity.
Sources close to the situation say the competition was fierce — Taylor Swift entered with EIGHT nominations and has dominated this category seven times before. BTS snatching Artist of the Year from under her nose after their comeback is being read as a shifting of the guard in pop music's power structure.
BTS previously won Artist of the Year at the 2021 AMAs — making this their second win. RM explicitly referenced completing 'military service' during his acceptance speech, acknowledging the group's mandatory hiatus due to South Korean conscription laws.
BTS didn't just win an award Monday night — they made a statement. After disappearing for military duty and returning to find the pop landscape rearranged, they've immediately reasserted their dominance over artists who never left the spotlight.
K-pop powerhouse BTS claimed Artist of the Year at the 2026 American Music Awards on Monday, May 25, defeating nine of music's biggest names in a result that has sent shockwaves through the industry. The ceremony took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where rapper Busta Rhymes presented the night's most coveted accolade to a visibly emotional group. RM accepted the award on behalf of the band with a speech that acknowledged both their devoted fanbase and the unique circumstances surrounding their return.
"ARMYs, we made it once again. Thank you, it's an honor to have this precious award once again after everybody's done their military service," RM declared. "Like the legendary Busta Rhymes said, it's fan voted award so our biggest thanks and gratitude as always goes to the ARMYs all over the world that stood by us for the past 13 years, thank you so much." The reference to military service underscores the significant challenge BTS faced — South Korea's mandatory conscription laws required all members to complete their duties, effectively putting the group on hiatus from official activities for an extended period.
The Artist of the Year competition was stacked with heavyweights. Nominees included Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift — artists who collectively dominate streaming numbers, touring revenue and cultural conversation worldwide. Notably absent from this list were any other K-pop acts, making BTS's victory a singular achievement for the genre at one of music's most competitive moments.
Taylor Swift entered the night as the presumptive favorite with eight nominations across multiple categories including Artist of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. The 36-year-old pop superstar has won this particular award seven times previously — in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 — giving her an unmatched record in the category. Justin Bieber, 32, was the only other nominee with multiple prior wins (2010 and 2012), while Bruno Mars claimed the honor once before in 2017.
BTS previously won Artist of the Year in 2021, making this their second victory in the category. The fan-voted nature of the award amplifies its significance. Unlike Grammy categories determined by industry committees, AMAs Artist of the Year reflects direct popular support — meaning millions of ARMYs worldwide mobilized to secure the win during a competitive year.
Lady Gaga earned six nominations for her work on "Mayhem" and tour performances, while Sabrina Carpenter and Morgan Wallen each collected seven nods heading into the ceremony. That BTS still emerged victorious speaks volumes about the loyalty and organizational strength of their fandom, which has weathered military service, hiatus periods and an ever-changing K-pop landscape to remain one of music's most formidable voting blocs.