South Korean boy band BTS made a triumphant return to the American Music Awards this year and swept major honours. The septet, consisting of RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, Jungkook and V, took home the Artist of the Year, Song of the Summer for Swim and Best Male K-Pop Artist.
This marked BTS' third in-person appearance at the AMAs, after previously appearing virtually for one of the editions.
While their first appearance in 2017 introduced them to the American mainstream, their return in 2026 reflected just how far they have come as global superstars. The group is currently in the middle of their comeback world tour and took time out from their schedule to attend the awards. Following the ceremony, BTS spoke about the emotional milestone during their Las Vegas concert, with leader RM reflecting on their very first AMA experience nearly a decade ago.
Recalling their humble beginnings at the awards show, RM shared, "In 2017, nine years ago, when we first attended the AMAs, we literally had no green room. So, we had to do our make-up in the hallway. When the stars walked by, we were like, 'We are sorry.' But last night, we had the largest room. And everyone, every legend, every staff member, was so nice and kind to us. And we know it's because of you all. It's all thanks to you. We'll always remember the night we had at the AMAs. We love you."
Back in 2017, BTS created history by becoming the first Korean act to perform at the AMAs. They performed their hit track DNA, a moment widely considered a turning point in their career as they entered the American mainstream and accelerated their rise to global dominance.
Their 2026 appearance also marked a major chapter in their comeback journey, coming four years after the members completed their mandatory military service. This year, they released their comeback album, titled Arirang, and the group is currently touring the world as part of their highly anticipated reunion era.