Stray Kids Earns Second Straight American Music Awards Nod in 'Best Male K-Pop Artist' Category

Stray Kids has earned its second straight nomination at the American Music Awards, securing a spot in the newly created "Best Male K-Pop Artist" category for the 2026 ceremony.

The American Music Awards released the full list of nominees for this year's show on Apr. 14 (local time), confirming that Stray Kids will compete in the Best Male K-Pop Artist category when the event takes place on May 25 in Las Vegas.

The group is nominated alongside fellow boy bands ATEEZ, BTS, ENHYPEN, and TXT, underscoring how competitive the field has become as K-pop's presence continues to grow on the U.S. music scene, according to Allkpop.

All AMA winners are chosen through fan voting based on data from streaming, sales, radio airplay, and touring, with ballots for the 2026 edition open on the awards show's official website and Instagram until May 8.

Consecutive AMA Ballot Appearance

This year's nod marks Stray Kids' second consecutive appearance on the AMA ballot, following their 2025 nomination in the broader Favorite K-Pop Artist category.

In addition to their recognition as nominees, the eight-member group has already made AMA history: they were invited to perform during the American Music Awards' 50th anniversary special in 2024, becoming only the second K-pop act ever to take the stage at the long-running U.S. awards show.

Korean media noted that their latest nomination cements Stray Kids' image as a "global top artist" with a fast-growing international fanbase, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

Stray Kids' rise at the AMAs mirrors their strong chart performance in the United States. With their 2022 mini album "ODDINARY," the group debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and they have since sent a string of releases to the top of the main albums chart, including more recent projects such as "SKZ IT TAPE: DO IT."

According to local reports, this run of eight consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 entries is unprecedented in the chart's 70-year history, further boosting the group's profile in the global market.

The 2026 American Music Awards will air live on May 25 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), with the Best Male K-Pop Artist trophy set to highlight the expanding footprint of K-pop within one of the United States' three major popular music award shows, alongside the Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards, as per Khan Sports.