Taylor Swift Skips 2026 AMAs Despite Leading All Nominations

Taylor Swift Skips 2026 AMAs Despite Leading All Nominations

Taylor Swift has eight nominations at tonight's American Music Awards and she will not be there to collect a single one of them. That is the reality Swifties woke up to this week, and honestly, the reason behind the no-show makes complete sense once you hear it.

image FTE News 

People confirmed that Swift, 36, will be skipping the 52nd annual AMAs, taking place tonight, May 25, live from Las Vegas.  And if Taylor is not going, it is a safe bet that Travis Kelce will not be at the MGM Grand Garden either. 

Wedding Planning Takes Priority Over Award Shows

So where exactly is Taylor Swift right now? In New York City, apparently deep in the final stretch of wedding prep. She has been spotted in NYC on numerous occasions over the past couple of weeks, seemingly planning her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce, which is reportedly set for July 3 in the Big Apple. 

Just days ago, the couple was photographed stepping out hand-in-hand after a dinner date at Sartiano's on Friday night in New York City. Taylor looked chic in a classic little black dress paired with heels and her signature bold red lipstick, while Travis turned heads in a standout floral shirt featuring tassels along the hem and sleeves. 

It was a very cute night out. But it was also clearly a night that said everything about where their heads are right now — focused on each other and on what is coming on July 3, not on Las Vegas.

Eight Nominations and Not Even a Seat in the Room

The nominations Taylor is sitting out on are nothing to shrug at. Her single "Fate of Ophelia" received nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Music Video, while "Elizabeth Taylor" is competing in the Song of the Summer category. 

E! News confirmed that Taylor won't be in attendance at the AMAs in Las Vegas, where she is nominated for eight awards.  Eight. And she is simply not going. For any other artist, that would be a shocking move. For Taylor Swift in 2026, it barely raises an eyebrow — she has earned the right to prioritize whatever she wants.

She Already Had Her Award Show Moment This Year

It is not like Taylor has been hiding from the spotlight entirely. Back in March, she gave fans one of the most memorable award show moments of the year. At the iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Taylor and Travis made their very first award show appearance as a couple. 

After Raye announced her as a winner, Swift stood and quickly shared a kiss with Kelce before taking the stage. During her speech, she spoke about writing her latest album and gave her fiancé a loving shout-out, saying the album "probably feels very happy and confident and free because that's the way I get to feel every single day of my life because of my fiancé, who is here tonight." 

That moment alone was enough to carry fans through a few months of low-key appearances.

It's Going to Be Huge"

While the AMAs will go on without her tonight, the event everyone is really counting down to is the wedding. Taylor has not given away much, but she has given away enough. On the Graham Norton Show, after extending an invitation to the host himself, Taylor admitted that the event is going to be "huge," adding: "I'm so excited about it. I think the only stressful weddings are the ones where you have a small amount of guests and people are on the bubble."

With Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid reportedly in the bridal party, Chiefs coach Andy Reid on the guest list, and a New York City venue that has yet to be officially revealed, huge might actually be an understatement.

For now, whoever wins at the AMAs tonight will do so knowing that the biggest name on the ballot decided her time was better spent planning the most talked-about wedding of 2026. And honestly? Hard to argue with that call.

From FTE News