The 52nd American Music Awards are heading back to the desert. CBS and Dick Clark Productions confirmed the ceremony will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This move places the industry’s biggest fan-voted celebration in the heart of the entertainment capital. The broadcast airs coast-to-coast on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, starting at 8 pm ET.
Voters hold the power for this multi-genre event. Nominations arrive on Tuesday, April 14, (stay tuned for the full list) and reflect actual fan interaction through Billboard charts. Streaming numbers, album sales, and tour grosses determine who makes the cut. It is a data-driven look at who actually dominated the airwaves and the stages over the last year.
The AMAs are currently riding a massive wave of momentum. Last year’s ceremony reached over ten million unique viewers, marking the largest audience for the show since 2019. By moving to a Memorial Day slot, the producers have found a sweet spot for music fans. The energy is high, the stakes are real, and the performances usually define the cultural conversation for months.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming milestones. Voting officially opens on April 14 and runs through May 8. This window is the only time to ensure your favorites take home the hardware. While the performer lineup remains under wraps for now, the shift to Las Vegas suggests a production scale that matches the city’s reputation for spectacle.
2026 Event Schedule:
- Nominations Announced: Tuesday, April 14
- Fan Voting Opens: Tuesday, April 14
- Fan Voting Closes: Friday, May 8
- Live Broadcast: Monday, May 25