BTS presented – BTS skipped the red carpet, showed up live about 90 minutes into the 2026 American Music Awards on May 25 in Las Vegas, and presented SZA with Best Female R&B Artist—an honor SZA accepted after a surprise appearance.
BTS was billed as the night’s biggest special guest at the 2026 American Music Awards, but the group’s live moment didn’t land right away.
The K-pop act skipped the red carpet and later appeared on stage about 90 minutes into the show. They arrived to present an award at the 2026 American Music Awards, held Monday (May 25) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
While BTS’s live timing tested patience, their presence was felt from the start: the group opened the awards show with a pre-taped performance.
Then, when they finally stepped on stage, it was to give the spotlight to SZA. BTS presented the award for Best Female R&B Artist, and SZA made a surprise appearance to accept the prize.
SZA beat out Kehlani, Summer Walker, Teyana Taylor, and Tyla. After she got on stage, she took some time to introduce herself to BTS and meet them for the first time.
BTS’s delayed live appearance came with an explanation that fits the logistics of performance life. The performance shown at the beginning of the night was pre-taped. and it appears to have been recorded at one of their Arirang World Tour shows in Las Vegas. The group is currently on tour. and they’re also in the middle of a four-night residency at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium—down the block from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. In other words. they didn’t just have to be ready for the AMAs; they had to make it work alongside a packed schedule and rehearsal time.
BTS’s pre-taped opening, their 90-minute on-stage arrival, and their decision to use footage from their ongoing Las Vegas tour all point to the same reality: the show had to accommodate the tour, not the other way around.
The AMAs are airing tonight at 8/7c on CBS. The show is hosted by Queen Latifah, returning after more than 30 years since she previously hosted. The nominations list is led by Taylor Swift with 8 nods.
BTS SZA American Music Awards 2026 MGM Grand Garden Arena Las Vegas Best Female R&B Artist Queen Latifah Taylor Swift nominations Arirang World Tour Allegiant Stadium Kehlani Summer Walker Teyana Taylor Tyla
90 minutes late is wild, like how do you even miss that much time on live TV.
So they skipped the red carpet and then showed up like 1.5 hours later… but they still “opened” the show? I’m confused. Sounds like they were there the whole time but not really??
I heard the opening was pre-taped and recorded at their Arirang thing, but isn’t that kinda cheating? Like the crowd thinks it’s BTS live and then it’s from another concert. Also SZA meeting them after the fact is cute though.
Queen Latifah hosting again and Taylor Swift leading nominations… meanwhile BTS is late and using old footage, sounds like production chaos honestly. They should’ve just been on time instead of blaming tours and rehearsals. If you’re the “biggest guest,” you don’t come in after everybody already started, like what the heck. Also Las Vegas scheduling is always a mess, MGM to Allegiant is not that far but apparently it is??