BTS to Make Special Appearance

BTS are headed to the 52nd American Music Awards. On Wednesday, CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced that the supergroup will make a special appearance at the annual ceremony on Memorial Day.

The moment will mark a grand return for BTS, who made their U.S. television performance debut at the 2017 AMAs and performed again in 2021, making history that night when they won the coveted trophy for Artist of the Year. The 11-time AMA winners will have a chance to add to their wins this year with three nominations for Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer, and Best Male K-Pop Artist.

Last month, BTS launched their extensive Arirang world tour in support of their sixth studio album, Arirang, their first LP in nearly four years after all seven members fulfilled their mandatory military service in South Korea. The album debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 and brought in record-breaking first week sales, selling 641,000 total copies in its first week of release — the most by a group since Billboard started tracking streaming numbers in 2014 — including 532,000 in pure album sales.

Their LP’s lead single, “Swim,” reached Number One on the Billboard Hot 100; the song remained at the top spot on the Billboard Global 200 for four weeks. This summer, the group is also set to co-headline the first ever halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with Shakira and Madonna in July.

The American Music Awards will kick off on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas and air live beginning at 8 p.m. E.T. on Paramount+ and CBS. Queen Latifah, who last hosted 30 years ago, will helm the awards show. Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. The showgirl is trailed by Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, and Sombr with seven nods each.

The event will feature performances from Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Idol, International Artist Award of Excellence recipient Karol G, Hootie and the Blowfish, Katseye, Keith Urban, Maluma, the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes, Riley Green, Sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, Twenty One Pilots, and more.

Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corp., which is also the parent company of Rolling Stone.