The Weeknd is the one to beat.
The singer – who topped the charts twice in 2015 with "The Hills" and "Can't Feel My Face" – received 19 nominations in 16 categories at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, more than any other group or artist. Justin Bieber earned 12 nods, followed by Drake and Fetty Wapp, who tied with 11 nominations apiece. Meanwhile, Adele is a finalist in eight categories and is a contender to earn the most Billboard Music Awards wins of any artist in history, a record currently held by Taylor Swift, who has 20 wins.
Hosts Ciara and Ludacris appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday to announce the finalists in six categories: Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Female Artist, Top New Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Hot 100 Song. After the broadcast, five more categories were announced via Billboard Music Award's Facebook and Periscope. The final categories were live-streamed on ABC News.
The Billboard Music Awards will air live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. "It is my honor to host the Billboard Music Awards for the third year and a pleasure to host with my good friend Ciara," Ludacris told E! News in a statement last week. "I'm looking forward to another great show in a new and exciting venue."
"The Billboard Music Awards is one of best awards shows to honor chart success. My great friend Ludacris and I have also shared songs together on the Billboard chart," Ciara said, referring to "Oh" and "Ride". "I look forward to sharing the stage with him on this special night. It will definitely be a night to remember!"
Here is the full list of 2016 Billboard Music Awards nominees:
Top Artist:
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silent
Bryson Tiller
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist:
Adele
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Silent
The Weeknd
Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift
U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silent
Top Country Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist:
Fall Out Boy
Elle King
twenty one pilots
WALK THE MOON
X Ambassadors
Top Latin Artist:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizrraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta
Major Lazer
Zedd
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong UNITED
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, "25"
Justin Bieber, "Purpose"
Ed Sheeran, "x"
Taylor Swift, "1989"
The Weeknd, "Beauty Behind the Madness"
Top Soundtrack:
"Empire": Original Soundtrack From Season 1
"Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Furious 7"
"Guardians of the Galaxy": Awesome Mix Vol. 1
"Pitch Perfect 2"
Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
Top Rap Album:
Drake, If You're Reading This It's Too Late
Drake and Future, What a Time to Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money
Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Luke Bryan, Kill the Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
David Bowie, Blackstar
Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams
Mumford &Sons, Wilder Mind
twenty one pilots, Blurryface
Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel, Los Do
Juan Gabriel, Mis Nmero 1...40 Aniversario
Man, Cama Incendiada
Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Mas Fuerte
Romeo Santos, Formula, Vol. 2
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta, Listen
Major Lazer, Peace Is the Mission
ODESZA, In Return
Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack
Zedd, True Colors
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Hillsong UNITED, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns That Are Important to Us
TobyMac, This Is Not a Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live
Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele, "Hello"
Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
The Weeknd, "Can't Feel My Face"
The Weeknd, "The Hills"
Top Selling Song:
Adele, "Hello"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
OMI, "Cheerleader"
Rachel Platten, "Fight Song"
The Weeknd, "The Hills"
Top Radio Song:
Adele, "Hello"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk!"
WALK THE MOON, "Shut Up and Dance"
The Weeknd, "Can't Feel My Face"
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Justin Bieber, "Sorry"
Justin Bieber, "What Do You Mean"
Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"
The Weeknd, "The Hills"
Drake, "Hotline Bling"
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk!"
Silent, "Watch Me"
The Weeknd, "The Hills"
Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara, "Here"
Omarion feat. Chris Brown and Jhen Aiko, "Post to Be"
The Weeknd, "Can't Feel My Face"
The Weeknd, "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)"
The Weeknd, "The Hills"
Top Rap Song:
Drake, "Hotline Bling"
Fetty Wap, "Trap Queen"
Fetty Wap feat. Remy Boz, "679"
Silent, "Watch Me"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt, "Break Up in a Small Town"
Sam Hunt, "Take Your Time"
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Thomas Rhett, "Die a Happy Man"
Chris Young, "I'm Comin' Over"
Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy, "Uma Thurman"
Elle King, "Ex's &Oh's"
twenty one pilot,s "Stressed Out"
WALK THE MOON, "Shut Up And Dance"
X Ambassadors, "Renegades"
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin, "Ginza"
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, "Te Metiste"
Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias, "El Perdon"
Maluma, "Borro Cassette"
Romeo Santos, "Propuesta Indecente"
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES, "Roses"
DJ Snake and AlunaGeorge, "You Know You Like It"
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack, "Hey Mama"
Major Lazer and DJ Snake feat. M, "Lean On"
Skrillex and Diplo, "Where Are Now" with Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED, "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
Hillsong UNITED, "Touch The Sky"
MercyMe, "Flawless"
NEEDTOBREATHE feat. Gavin DeGraw, "Brother"
Chris Tomlin, "Good Good Father"
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, "Worth"
Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, "I Luh God"
Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"
Travis Greene, "Intentional"
Brian Courtney Wilson, "Worth Fighting For"
PHOTOS: What the stars wore to the 2015 Billboard Music Awards
Video: Flashback! Taylor Swift hits the red carpet at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards
PHOTOS: Best dressed at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards
VIDEO: Lady Gaga named Billboard's "Woman of the Year" in 2015