The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26, 2026, and broadcast live on Fox. It was hosted by Ludacris.
At the ceremony, Miley Cyrus was honored with the iHeartRadio Innovator Award for her "fearless and dynamic artist" whose journey from Hannah Montana to global icon, combined with her humanitarian advocacy for homeless and at‑risk youth, has made her one of the most influential voices in music and culture. Ludacris was honored with the iHeartRadio Landmark Award for "pioneering force in hip‑hop" whose multi‑platinum albums, Grammy wins, and acclaimed acting roles have shaped culture across decades, making him one of the most successful and influential artists of his generation. John Mellencamp was honored with the iHeartRadio Icon Awards for his enduring contributions as a singer‑songwriter whose career‑defining hits such as "Jack & Diane", "Pink Houses", and "Small Town", along with his decades of activism including co‑founding Farm Aid, have made him a central figure in American music and culture. Taylor Swift won the most awards.
Performers The first lineup of performers was announced on March 11. The second lineup of performers was announced on March 19. +Performers at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Performer(s) Song(s) Alex Warren "Ordinary" "Fever Dream" Lainey Wilson "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" "Hang Tight Honey" "Heart Like a Truck" TLCEn VogueSalt-N-PepaDJ Spinderella Medley:"Hold On" "Waterfalls" "Shoop" "Whatta Man" "Creep" "No Scrubs" "Free Your Mind" "Push It" John Mellencamp "Jack & Diane" "Pink Houses" Kehlani "Folded" Raye "Where Is My Husband!" Ludacris Medley:"Pull Over" "Rollout (My Business)" "Money Maker" "My Chick Bad" "Stand Up" "Move Bitch"
Winners and nominees iHeartRadio announced the nominees on January 8, 2026. Taylor Swift led with nine nominations. She is followed by Alex Warren, Bad Bunny, and Sabrina Carpenter with eight nominations each. A new fan-voted category for Live Performers was announced on March 31.https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-31-iheartradio-pollstar-team-up-to-launch-fan-voted-live-performer-award/
Winners are listed first and in bold.
Main categories Song of the YearArtist of the Year "Ordinary" – Alex Warren "Anxiety" – Doechii "Good News" – Shaboozey "Love Somebody" – Morgan Wallen "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar and SZA "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter "Mutt" – Leon Thomas "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else" – Benson Boone "Stargazing" – Myles Smith "The Fate of Ophelia" – Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Bad Bunny Benson Boone Chris Brown Jelly Roll Kendrick Lamar Lady Gaga Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Tate McRaeDuo/Group of the YearBest Collaboration Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami Linkin Park Shinedown Twenty One Pilots Maroon 5 "APT." – Rosé and Bruno Mars "All the Way" – BigXthaPlug featuring Bailey Zimmerman "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar and SZA "Timeless" – The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti "Whatchu Kno About Me" – GloRilla featuring Sexyy RedPop Artist of the YearBest New Pop Artist Sabrina Carpenter Alex Warren Benson Boone Tate McRae Taylor Swift Alex Warren Jessie Murph Myles Smith Ravyn Lenae SombrPop Song of the YearCountry Song of the Year "The Fate of Ophelia" – Taylor Swift "Golden" – Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter "Ordinary" – Alex Warren "Pink Pony Club" – Chappell Roan "Good News" – Shaboozey "After All the Bars Are Closed" – Thomas Rhett "Liar" – Jelly Roll "Love Somebody" – Morgan Wallen "Whiskey Drink" – Jason AldeanCountry Artist of the YearBest New Country Artist Morgan Wallen Jason Aldean Jelly Roll Lainey Wilson Luke Combs Ella Langley Chase Matthew Hudson Westbrook Josh Ross Zach TopHip-Hop Song of the YearHip-Hop Artist of the Year "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar and SZA "Outside" – Cardi B "Nokia" – Drake "The Largest" – BigXthaPlug "Whatchu Kno About Me" – GloRilla featuring Sexyy Red Kendrick Lamar Cardi B GloRilla Playboi Carti Tyler, the CreatorBest New Hip-Hop ArtistR&B Song of the Year Real Boston Richey Moliy Pluto YKNiece Zeddy Will "Folded" – Kehlani "Burning Blue" – Mariah the Scientist "Mutt" – Leon Thomas "Residuals" – Chris Brown "Somebody Loves Me" – PartyNextDoor & DrakeR&B Artist of the YearBest New R&B Artist Chris Brown Kehlani Leon Thomas Mariah the Scientist SZA Leon Thomas Jenevieve Kwn Mariah the Scientist SailorrWorld Artist of the YearAlternative Song of the Year Moliy Ayra Starr Jackson Wang JO1 Tyla "Ensenada" – Sublime "Back to Friends" – Sombr "One Eyed Bastard" – Green Day "Stargazing" – Myles Smith "The Contract" – Twenty One PilotsAlternative Artist of the YearBest New Alternative Artist Twenty One Pilots Cage the Elephant Green Day Linkin Park Sublime Sombr Almost Monday Gigi Perez Lola Young Role ModelRock Song of the YearRock Artist of the Year "Heavy Is the Crown" – Linkin Park "Afterlife" – Evanescence "Bad Guy" – Falling in Reverse featuring Saraya "Dance, Kid, Dance" – Shinedown "Even If It Kills Me" – Papa Roach Shinedown Linkin Park Papa Roach Sleep Token Three Days GraceBest New Rock ArtistDance Song of the Year Sleep Theory Architects Poppy Return to Dust Spiritbox "No Broke Boys" – Disco Lines and Tinashe "Blessings" – Calvin Harris featuring Clementine Douglas "In My Arms" – Illenium and Hayla "Save My Love" – Marshmello, Ellie Goulding and Avaion "Won't Be Possible" – Tiësto, Odd Mob and GoodboysDance Artist of the YearLatin Pop/Urban Song of the Year David Guetta Calvin Harris John Summit Martin Garrix Tiësto "DTMF" – Bad Bunny "Angel" – Grupo Frontera and Romeo Santos "Degenere" – Myke Towers and Benny Blanco "Qué Pasaría..." – Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny "Soltera" – ShakiraLatin Pop/Urban Artist of the YearBest New Latin/Urban Artist Bad Bunny Feid J Balvin Karol G Shakira Beéle Alleh Mezher De La Rose Dei V Louis BPMRegional Mexican Song of the YearRegional Mexican Artist of the Year "Amor Bonito" – Luis Angel "El Flaco" "El Amor de Mi Vida" – Calibre 50 "Flores" – Xavi "Hecha Pa' Mi" – Grupo Frontera "Lejos Estamos Mejor" – Edén Muñoz Grupo Frontera Alejandro Fernández Carín León Fuerza Regida Luis Angel "El Flaco"Best New Regional Mexican ArtistK-Pop Artist of the Year Los Dos De Tamaulipas Clave Especial Edgardo Nuñez Óscar Maydon Oscar Ortiz Rosé Jennie J-Hope Jin LisaK-Pop Group of the YearK-Pop Song of the Year Stray Kids Ateez Blackpink Enhypen Twice "Golden" – Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami "APT." – Rosé and Bruno Mars "Jump" – Blackpink "Killin' It Girl" – J-Hope featuring GloRilla "Like Jennie" – JennieBest K-Pop New ArtistSongwriter of the Year Cortis 82Major AllDay Project Hearts2Hearts Meovv Amy Allen Ashley Gorley Cal Shapiro Charlie Handsome Julia MichaelsProducer of the YearBreakthrough Artist of the Year Andrew Watt Dijon Jack Antonoff Max Martin and Shellback Sounwave Alex WarrenAlbum of the Year The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor SwiftAlbum of the Year (per genre) Alternative: ''I Barely Know Her – Sombr Country: I'm the Problem – Morgan Wallen Dance: Mayhem – Lady Gaga Hip-Hop: GNX – Kendrick Lamar K-Pop: Ruby – Jennie Latin Pop/Urban: Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny Pop: The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift R&B: Pholks – Leon Thomas Regional Mexican: 111xpantia – Fuerza Regida Rock: Even in Arcadia'' – Sleep Token
Socially voted categories Best LyricsBest Music Video "The Fate of Ophelia" – Taylor Swift "Anxiety" – Doechii "Baile Inolvidable" – Bad Bunny "Camera" – Ed Sheeran "Choosin' Texas" – Ella Langley "Daisies" – Justin Bieber "Golden" – Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami "Man I Need" – Olivia Dean "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter "Ordinary" – Alex Warren "Undressed" – Sombr "Where Is My Husband!" – Raye "The Fate of Ophelia" – Taylor Swift "Abracadabra" – Lady Gaga "Baile Inolvidable" – Bad Bunny "Born Again" – Lisa featuring Doja Cat and Raye "Gabriela" – Katseye "Jump" – Blackpink "Like Jennie" – Jennie "Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter "Ordinary" – Alex Warren "Sapphire" – Ed Sheeran "Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)" – Moliy, Shenseea, Skillibeng and Silent Addy "Toxic Till the End" – RoséFavorite Debut AlbumFavorite K-Pop Collaboration You'll Be Alright, Kid – Alex Warren Addison – Addison Rae Who's the Clown? – Audrey Hobert Order Chaos Order – Calum Hood Why Not More? – Coco Jones That's Showbiz Baby – Jade Ruby – Jennie Alter Ego – Lisa Sidequest – Michael Clifford Perrie – Perrie I Barely Know Her – Sombr What Not To – Tucker Wetmore | style="vertical-align:top" | "Sweet Dreams" – J-Hope featuring Miguel "Blink" – Corbyn Besson and Tzuyu of Twice "Born Again" – Lisa featuring Doja Cat and Raye "Buck" – Jackson Wang featuring Diljit Dosanjh "Confessions" – Flo Rida, Heeseung and Jake of Enhypen, and Paul Russell "Dirty Work" – Aespa featuring Flo Milli "ExtraL" – Jennie and Doechii "Eyes Closed" – Jisoo and Zayn "Illegal" – PinkPantheress and Seventeen "On My Mind" – Alex Warren and Rosé "Too Bad" – G-Dragon featuring Anderson .Paak "We Pray (Twice version)" – Coldplay, Twice, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini |- ! style="background:#EEDD85;" width="50%" |Favorite TikTok Dance ! style="background:#EEDD85;" width="50%" |Favorite On Screen |- | style="vertical-align:top" | "Mona Lisa" – J-Hope "Abracadabra" – Lady Gaga "Gnarly" – Katseye "Go!" – Cortis "Happen to Me" – Russell Dickerson "Jump" – Blackpink "Like Jennie" – Jennie "Midnight Sun" – Zara Larsson "Revolving Door" – Tate McRae "Spaghetti" – Le Sserafim and J-Hope "The Fate of Ophelia" – Taylor Swift | style="vertical-align:top" | Jimin and Jung Kook – Are You Sure? AJ McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, and Kelly Rowland – Building the Band Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good Bad Bunny – Happy Gilmore 2 Becky G – Rebecca Ed Sheeran – One Shot with Ed Sheeran: A Musical Experience Jonas Brothers – A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Karol G – Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful Lady Gaga – Wednesday Lisa – The White Lotus Taylor Swift – Taylor Swift: The End of an Era Zara Larsson – Up CloseFavorite Tour PhotographerFavorite Tour Style Rahul Bhatt – Katseye Abby Waisler – Gracie Abrams Adam DeGross – Post Malone Anna Lee – Coldplay Baeth – Tate McRae Chris Cornejo – Shakira Cynthia Parkhurst – Katy Perry Henry Hwu – Billie Eilish Hyghly – The Weeknd Joshua Halling – Oasis Thomas Falcone – Shawn Mendes Tom Pallant – Yungblud Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter Tour Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Blackpink – Deadline World Tour Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism Tour Ella Langley – Still Hungover Tour Katseye – Beautiful Chaos Tour Lady Gaga – The Mayhem Ball Sabrina Carpenter – Short n' Sweet Tour Tate McRae – Miss Possessive Tour Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun TourFavorite Tour TraditionFavorite Broadway Debut Coldplay – Crowd cam Benson Boone – Cover song Beyoncé – Blue Ivy and Rumi on stage Billie Eilish – "When the Party's Over" silent loop Dua Lipa – Surprise guest Jonas Brothers – Surprise guest Katseye – "Gnarly" dance break Lainey Wilson – Cowgirl of the night Role Model – Sally Sabrina Carpenter – Celebrity "Juno" arrest Tate McRae – Fan cam on stage Zara Larsson – "Lush Life" star Tom Felton – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Ashley Graham – Chicago Cheryl Porter – & Juliet Durrell "Tank" Babbs – Hell's Kitchen Gabrielle Nevaeh Green – Stranger Things: The First Shadow Jack Wolfe – Hadestown Kelsie Watts – Six! The Musical Lencia Kebede – Wicked Lizzy McAlpine – Floyd Collins Meg Donnelly – Moulin Rouge! The Musical Ne-Yo – Hell's Kitchen Trisha Paytas – BeetlejuiceFavorite SoundtrackFan Favorite Live Performer of the Year KPop Demon Hunters A Very Jonas Christmas Movie F1 Frankenstein