Taylor Swift Reportedly Skipping the 2026 American Music Awards Despite Massive Awards Momentum
Despite dominating awards buzz this season, Taylor Swift may skip the 2026 American Music Awards.
File this under: the kind of scheduling conflict only a superstar has. Taylor Swift is skipping the 2026 American Music Awards, even though she leads the nominations. That alone is a story. The reason why she is sitting this one out? That is the part everyone is buzzing about.
The AMAs are set, but Swift will not be there
The 2026 AMAs happen May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Queen Latifah hosting. E! News says Taylor will not attend. That is notable on its own, but extra eyebrow-raising considering she is this year’s most-nominated artist. For context, her last time at the AMAs was 2022.
Why the no-show
Short version: life is happening. Swift has been spotted all over New York City lately, and multiple insiders have tied that to full-on wedding prep with Travis Kelce. If you are wondering whether she is prioritizing personal milestones over another trophy run this season, the answer sure looks like yes.
Her nomination haul is no joke
- Album: 'The Life of a Showgirl' is up for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album
- Single: 'Fate of Ophelia' is nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video
- Track: 'Elizabeth Taylor' is in the newly introduced Song of the Summer category
- Eight total nods overall, with two additional categories not specified here
The wedding rumors, clarified
Here is where it gets interesting. The current chatter points to July 3, 2026, in New York City for Taylor and Travis’s wedding. Nothing is officially confirmed, and earlier talk about June 13 got shut down by people close to them. The July 3 date lines up with their recent NYC footprint and lands right before Independence Day, which feels very on-brand if you are reading the tea leaves.
The guest list people are hearing about is tight and curated, roughly 150 names. On her side: Selena Gomez, the Haim sisters, Gigi Hadid, and childhood best friend Abigail Anderson are expected. On his: Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, and Kylie Kelce are in the mix. If she ends up winning anything on May 25, expect those trophies to be collected in absentia while she keeps her energy aimed at a much bigger aisle.
Bottom line: the AMAs will have Queen Latifah, a packed MGM Grand, and a bunch of envelopes with Taylor’s name inside. But Swift herself? She has a different kind of headline moment to get to.