BTS Arrives Late at 2026 American Music Awards to Hand SZA Her R&B Award

BTS pulled into the 2026 American Music Awards as the evening's marquee special guest, though they took their time getting there. The K-pop group made their live stage entrance approximately 90 minutes into Monday night's ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25.

The band bypassed the red carpet entirely but still managed to make an impact when they appeared on stage to present hardware. They handed over the Best Female R&B Artist award to SZA, who came out to accept the honor herself. The win put SZA ahead of Kehlani, Summer Walker, Teyana Taylor, and Tyla in the category.

Upon meeting SZA at the podium, the group took a moment to introduce themselves, as it marked their first in-person encounter with the artist.

How BTS Opened the Show Without Being There

The performance that kicked off the AMAs earlier in the evening wasn't happening live in the arena. Instead, BTS delivered a pre-recorded set that was captured during one of their Arirang World Tour stops in Las Vegas. With the group in the middle of a four-night stand at Allegiant Stadium—just a short distance from the awards venue—they filmed their appearance on tour rather than staging a fresh performance for the ceremony.

The logistics worked out conveniently: their residency location sat mere blocks away from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, eliminating the need for the group to carve out rehearsal time for a new show.

Queen Latifah served as host for the evening, marking her return to the role after more than three decades away from the position. Taylor Swift led the night's nominations with eight nods across various categories.