Heavy music fans didn’t exactly get the outcome they were hoping for at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Despite major nominations across several rock and alternative categories, Deftones, Sleep Token and Linkin Park all walked away empty handed during this year’s ceremony (May 25th) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (per The PRP).

The night largely belonged to Twenty One Pilots and indie pop-rock artist sombr, who swept the major alternative categories, for many fans, the results felt disconnected from what’s actually happening in heavy music right now.

Sleep Token arguably had one of the biggest breakout years any modern heavy band has experienced in the streaming era, their album Even In Arcadia dominated charts internationally while their arena tour rapidly elevated the anonymous UK collective into genuine global headliner territory.

Sleep Token ‘Caramel’

Deftones also continued their massive resurgence thanks to private music, their tenth studio album, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and helped fuel another successful arena touring cycle.

Deftones ‘infinite source’

Meanwhile, Linkin Park’s comeback era behind From Zero continued to pull huge crowds worldwide, proving the band remain one of the most commercially powerful names in alternative music even years after their hiatus.

Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine

Mainstream prevails

Once the envelopes opened, mainstream crossover appeal once again seemed to outweigh heavy music momentum, even Sleep Token’s hugely successful Even In Arcadia Tour lost out in the Breakout Tour category, with Benson Boone taking home that award instead.

The results also mirrored this year’s Grammy Awards, where heavy artists similarly received major nominations but failed to convert them into wins, at this point, the conversation around award shows and heavy music representation is becoming harder to ignore.

Metal, hardcore and alternative heavy acts are commercially thriving in ways they haven’t for years, yet major industry ceremonies still appear hesitant to fully reward that success when it matters most.

2026 American Music Awards – Rock & Alternative Winners

Best Rock/Alternative Artist

• Twenty One Pilots — Winner
• Linkin Park
• The Marías
• Sleep Token
• Deftones

Best Rock/Alternative Song

• sombr — back to friends — Winner
• Linkin Park — Up From The Bottom
• Noah Kahan — The Great Divide
• Sublime — Ensenada
• Tame Impala — Dracula

Best Rock/Alternative Album

• sombr — I Barely Know Her — Winner
• Sleep Token — Even In Arcadia
• Tame Impala — Deadbeat
• Twenty One Pilots — Breach
• Zach Bryan — With Heaven On Top

Breakout Tour

• Benson Boone — American Heart World Tour — Winner
• Kali Uchis — The Sincerely, Tour
• The Marías — Submarine Tour
• Megan Moroney — Am I Okay? Tour
• Sleep Token — Even In Arcadia Tour

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