On Monday, the globally revered K-pop sensation BTS made a highly anticipated comeback to the awards show circuit, delivering a special appearance at the 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs) held in Las Vegas. The seven-member band opened the Memorial Day awards show with a pre-recorded performance of “Hooligan” from their recent concert the night before, part of their ongoing Arirang World Tour where they perform in a circular stage.
Almost 90 minutes after their initial performance aired at the top of the show, BTS took the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to a sea of screaming fans, marking their first appearance at an awards show in four years. “All of us are so happy to be back together at the AMAs again,” RM said onstage, igniting a wave of excitement among the audience.
The band presented the award for Best Female R&B Artist to SZA, who expressed her delight at meeting the K-pop superstars. BTS went on to win all three AMAs for which they were nominated, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer (“Swim”), and Best Male K-pop Artist. Although the latter award was not presented on camera, the crowd continued to go wild for the K-pop group as they returned to the awards show stage to accept their additional trophies and took their seats in the audience.
BTS was already in town for a sold-out string of shows at the nearby Allegiant Stadium as part of their ongoing Arirang World Tour. The group, comprising members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, played their first show in Vegas on Saturday (May 23) and another on Sunday (May 24). They’ll resume their Vegas engagement on May 27 and May 28.
Sunday’s concert was a little over two-hour spectacle of elaborate production and cool performances. The tour has been highly anticipated as Arirang, the group’s album that the tour is named after, is their first album in years. BTS all but took over the entire city over the Memorial Day Weekend with the BTS The City activation. Fireworks kicked off the festivities Saturday night at the MGM Grand. The Las Vegas Strip, as part of a partnership with Visit Las Vegas, turned fully red at 11 p.m. local time, with the group’s picture and a message “Las Vegas Welcomes BTS” splashed across the marquees on the Strip. The nearby Sphere also featured Arirang displayed on its rotation.
The group continues on the Arirang World Tour for much of the year, however, they’re making some special stops along the way. In July, BTS will join Madonna and Shakira for the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. It marks the first-ever halftime show for the FIFA World Cup Final. They’ll co-headline alongside the pop stars on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The American Music Awards were created by Dick Clark Productions (DCP), which is owned by Penske Media Corporation (PMC), The Hollywood Reporter’s parent company, in a subsidiary joint venture between PMC and Eldridge.
