Taylor Swift has decided to skip the upcoming American Music Awards despite being this year's most nominated star. The 36-year-old singer is up for eight awards at the 2026 ceremony following the success of her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl.
According to People magazine, she will not attend the event on Monday, May 25, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as her wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce, also 36, is fast approaching. Her last appearance at a major awards show was in March, when she and Kelce attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she won seven of her nine nominations.
At this year's American Music Awards, Swift is nominated for top honors, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album. The first single from her 12th studio album, The Fate of Ophelia, is up for Song of the Year, Best Music Video, and Best Pop Song. The third single, Elizabeth Taylor, received a nod for Song of the Summer.
Record Holder and Previous Absences
Swift is already the record-holder for the most wins at the American Music Awards with 40 awards, followed by Michael Jackson with 26. The 2026 AMAs will air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. Swift notably skipped last year's AMAs, hosted by Jennifer Lopez, disappointing fans who anticipated a re-recording announcement for her 2017 album Reputation. Last year, she was nominated in six categories for The Tortured Poets Department but failed to win any.
Wedding and Prenuptial Speculation
Swift's absence comes amid speculation about a prenuptial agreement with Kelce. If the couple, who recently attended a friend's wedding in New York, choose to sign a legally binding contract before their July wedding, location is a critical factor. Swift is worth an estimated $2 billion, while Kelce's net worth is between $50 million and $90 million. They have ties to California, Rhode Island, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, and New York, where they reportedly plan to marry.
Swift's real estate includes homes in Rhode Island, New York, and Tennessee. Kelce owns properties in Leawood, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; and a Florida home he shares with his family. Should they divorce, they would likely prefer a state that enforces prenups and protects separate property. New York may be less favorable due to judges who closely inspect prenups, while Kansas is considered prenup-friendly. Tennessee is seen as a solid choice for wealthy couples.
In August 2025, a team set up a proposal setting at Kelce's home while he was filming his podcast, allowing him to propose to Swift immediately after. They announced their engagement in September 2025 with an Instagram post captioned, 'Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.'
Michael Rubin moved his annual July 4th party to July 1 to avoid conflicting with Swift and Kelce's wedding, reportedly set for Independence Day weekend in New York. The couple is expected to honeymoon in the Bahamas, Lake Como, Paris, the French Riviera, and Croatia.
