The American Music Awards 2026 opened with a packed blue carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where Latin stars drew much of the attention before the gala began. Among the names that stood out was Maluma, who arrived in a gray and brown Hugo Boss suit, finished with black shoes and dark glasses.
Maluma’s appearance came as part of a larger sweep of stars who passed through the carpet before the ceremony, including Karol G, Tito Double P and Fuerza Regida. He attended without Susana Gómez, who is expecting their second child. The sight line made his arrival one of the night’s cleaner fashion statements: tailored, restrained and built around tones that matched without trying to shout over the crowd.
Latin artists were not the only ones drawing cameras. Tito Double P wore a black leather jacket with a turtleneck shirt and velvet pants in the same tone, while the artists of Harley Quinn wore very similar looks. Elsewhere on the carpet, Hillary Duff wore a silver Paco Rabanne dress, and EJAE showed up in a military green Mugler outfit with purple gloves and striking accessories. Sombr, Queen Latifah, New Kids on the Block, Jason Derulo, David Guetta and BTS were also present, turning the pre-show walk into a full lineup of music and pop names.
The blue carpet matters because it is where the AMAs set the tone before the trophies are handed out. This year, that tone leaned heavily toward Latin representation, with Maluma’s polished look landing in the middle of a crowded field of international arrivals. His choice of a Hugo Boss suit in muted colors fit the moment: less spectacle than some of the other guests, but still impossible to miss under the lights in Las Vegas.
That balance is what made his appearance notable. He came dressed for the camera, but also away from the distraction of a red-carpet-style stunt, and the absence of Susana Gómez kept the focus on the fashion and the event itself. With the gala ahead at MGM Grand Garden Arena, the blue carpet had already done its job by the time the first seats were filled: it put Maluma and the other Latin acts at the center of the night before a single award was handed out.
