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Katseye Electrifies AMAs with "Pinky Up" Performance, Crowned Best New Artist

Katseye transformed the American Music Awards into a hyper-pop dance party with a vibrant "Pinky Up" performance on a tearoom-themed set, shortly before winning Best New Artist.

Variety Music·May 26, 2026·via Variety Music

Katseye Electrifies AMAs with "Pinky Up" Performance, Crowned Best New Artist

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May 25, 2026 7:22pm PT

Katseye Brings the AMAs’ House Down With Beary Exciting ‘Pinky Up’ Performance, Before Winning Best New Artist

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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Teahouses and raves have not often been mentioned in the same breath, but Katseye brought the hyper-pop dance party to a beyond-brightly-colored tearoom set with the quintet’s live rendition of “Pinky Up” on the American Music Awards .

The galvanizing number came shortly before the group won best new artist on the CBS/Paramount+ telecast.

Kateye’s performance was one of the most highly anticipated of the night, given the devotion of the group’s fan base, so it was not a surprise that “Pinky Up,” appearing two-thirds of the way through the three-hour telecast, featured some of the most elaborate production values of the night.