ceremonies-and-events

When are the American Music Awards held? A definitive guide to the event date, schedule, and timing

The American Music Awards (AMAs) are typically held in November of each year, often on a Sunday late in the month, though the exact calendar date can vary. There is no fixed ann...

Mara Ellison
When are the American Music Awards held? A definitive guide to the event date, schedule, and timing

Key answers on the AMAs date

The American Music Awards (AMAs) are typically held in November of each year, often on a Sunday late in the month, though the exact calendar date can vary. There is no fixed annual date; the show is scheduled by the network and producers to maximize viewership and align with the awards season timeline. In recent years, the AMAs have most commonly appeared in mid-to-late November. Below is a compact pattern from publicly reported years that illustrate the usual timing windows and shifts.

YearDate (American Music Awards)Day of weekContext
2025November 23, 2025SundayPlanned schedule (subject to change)
2024November 24, 2024SundayProduced show in fall awards window
2023November 19, 2023SundayMid-November timing
2022November 20, 2022SundayTypical late-November placement
2021November 21, 2021SundayPre-pandemic pattern alignment

The consistent theme is that the AMAs are a fall awards-season event scheduled on a Sunday evening, intended to capitalize on high TV viewership before holiday programming crowds out live audiences.

How the American Music Awards date is determined

The AMAs are produced by Dick Clark Productions in partnership with the Hollywood Reporter and are televised on a major broadcast network. The date is set by producers and the network each year based on several factors: avoiding conflicts with other major awards ceremonies (such as the Grammys), aligning with the traditional fall awards season, securing high-profile talent availability, and optimizing for live Sunday evening viewership. Because of this, the specific calendar date can shift slightly from year to year within a common late-November window.

Typical schedule and time of day

When the American Music Awards are held, they usually occur on a Sunday evening in prime-time Eastern Time. This scheduling choice helps maximize live audience numbers across U.S. time zones and aligns with network strategies for high-rating entertainment events. Regional variations in local start times may apply depending on network scheduling and broadcast delay practices.

Why the American Music Awards are not on a fixed date

Unlike some events tied to astronomical or civic markers, the AMAs do not depend on holidays or seasons like Thanksgiving. Instead, the show’s calendar position is a strategic decision by producers and the network each year. The goal is to place the broadcast where it can compete effectively in the awards landscape while capitalizing on heightened music consumption and media attention in the late fall.

How to find the announced date each year

As the new broadcast year approaches, the official organizers typically announce the upcoming American Music Awards date several months in advance. Key signals include network press releases, announcements from Dick Clark Productions, and coverage by music and entertainment media. Historically, announcements appear in the late spring or summer preceding the November ceremony, giving audiences, advertisers, and performers adequate preparation time.

Planning around the AMAs and possible conflicts

Because the AMAs are positioned in a crowded fall awards calendar, it is common for the date to be planned around major sports events, holidays, and other televised awards. When evaluating the timing of any annual show, it’s useful to consider how it fits alongside events like the VMAs, early season sports, and holiday travel windows that can affect viewership and venue logistics.