2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards are just around the corner, so here are all the categories and its nominees before the ceremony. This will be the 13th edition of the radio music awards.
This year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards will take place in just a few days, on March 26, 2026. Moreover, as was announced, it will be celebrated in Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. The American rapper and producer Ludacris will be in charge of hosting the event, as well as performing during the musical evening.
Here are the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations, ready for next week’s very awaited event. Moreover, for all those who are at home, the show will be televised live on FOX.
On the other hand, there are several socially voted categories filled with top artists such as Lady Gaga, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. These groups are: Favorite Broadway Debut, Favorite TikTok Dance, Favorite Debut Album, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite On Screen, Favorite Tour Photographer, Favorite Soundtrack, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Tour Tradition and Favorite K-pop Collab.
Furthermore, it was announced that Miley Cyrus will be receiving the Innovator Awards. This recognition prize comes after her iconic influence on pop culture. In addition, iHeartRadio 2026’s Landmark Award will be directed to this year’s presenter Ludacris.
This prestigious award recognizes his influence in hip-hop and the music industry over the years. The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations were posted earlier this year, on January 8th, 2026.
2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominations
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Benson Boone
- Chris Brown
- Jelly Roll
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
- Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
- Anxiety – Doechii
- Good News – Shaboozey
- Love Somebody – Morgan Wallen
- luther – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
- MUTT – Leon Thomas
- Ordinary – Alex Warren
- Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else – Benson Boone
- Stargazing – Myles Smith
- The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Pop music categories at the iHeartRadio Music Awards
Pop Artist of the Year
- Alex Warren
- Benson Boone
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
- Taylor Swift
Pop Song of the Year
- Golden – HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
- Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
- Ordinary – Alex Warren
- Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
- The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best New Artist – Pop
- Alex Warren
- Jessie Murph
- Myles Smith
- Ravyn Lenae
- sombr
Duo/ Group of the Year
- HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
- Linkin Park
- Maroon 5
- Shinedown
- Twenty One Pilots
Best Collaboration
- All The Way – BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman
- APT. – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
- luther – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- Timeless – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
- WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Country music nominations
Country Artist of the Year
- Jason Aldean
- Jelly Roll
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
Country Song of the Year
- After All The Bars Are Closed – Thomas Rhett
- Good News – Shaboozey
- Liar – Jelly Roll
- Love Somebody – Morgan Wallen
- Whiskey Drink – Jason Aldean
Best New Artist – Country
- Chase Matthew
- Ella Langley
- Hudson Westbrook
- Josh Ross
- Zach Top
Hip-Hop music nominees at the iHeartRadio Music Awards
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
- Cardi B
- GloRilla
- Kendrick Lamar
- Playboi Carti
- Tyler, The Creator
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
- luther – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- NOKIA – Drake
- Outside – Cardi B
- The Largest – BigXthaPlug
- WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Best New Artist – Hip-Hop
- MOLIY
- PLUTO
- Real Boston Richey
- YKNIECE
- ZEDDY WILL
R&B music categories and its nominees
R&B Artist of the Year
- Chris Brown
- Kehlani
- Leon Thomas
- Mariah the Scientist
- SZA
R&B Song of the Year
- Burning Blue – Mariah the Scientist
- Folded – Kehlani
- MUTT – Leon Thomas
- Residuals – Chris Brown
- SOMEBODY LOVES ME – PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
Best New Artist – R&B
- Jenevieve
- Kwn
- Leon Thomas
- Mariah the Scientist
- Sailorr
World Artist of the Year
- Ayra Starr
- Jackson Wang
- JO1
- MOLIY
- Tyla
Alternative music nomiees at the 2026 iHeartRadio event
Alternative Artist of the Year
- Cage the Elephant
- Green Day
- Linkin Park
- Sublime
- Twenty One Pilots
Alternative Song of the Year
- Back To Friends – sombr
- Ensenada – Sublime
- One Eyed Bastard – Green Day
- Stargazing – Myles Smith
- The Contract – Twenty One Pilots
Best New Artist – Alternative
- almost Monday
- Gigi Perez
- Lola Young
- Role Model
- sombr
Rock music categories for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Rock Artist of the Year
- Linkin Park
- Papa Roach
- Shinedown
- Sleep Token
- Three Days Grace
Rock Song of the Year
- Afterlife – Evanescence
- Bad Guy – Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya
- Dance, Kid, Dance – Shinedown
- Even If It Kills Me – Papa Roach
- Heavy Is the Crown – Linkin Park
Best New Artist – Rock
- Architects
- Poppy
- Return to Dust
- Sleep Theory
- Spiritbox
Dance music categories and nominees
Dance Artist of the Year
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- John Summit
- Martin Garrix
- Tiësto
Dance Song of the Year
- Blessings – Calvin Harris feat. Clementine Douglas
- In My Arms – ILLENIUM & HAYLA
- No Broke Boys – Disco Lines & Tinashe
- Save My Love – Marshmello, Ellie Goulding and AVAION
- Won’t Be Possible – Tiësto, Odd Mob & Goodboys
Latin Pop/ Urban nominees at the iHeartRadio Music Awards
Latin Pop/ Urban Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Feid
- J Balvin
- Karol G
- Shakira
Latin Pop/ Urban Song of the Year
- Angel – Grupo Frontera & Romeo Santos
- DEGENERE – Myke Towers & benny blanco
- DtMF – Bad Bunny
- Qué Pasaría… – Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny
- Soltera – Shakira
Best New Artist – Latin Pop/ Urban
- Alleh
- Beéle
- De La Rose
- Dei V
- Louis BPM
Regional Mexican music categories for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music ceremony
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year
- Alejandro Fernández
- Carín León
- Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Frontera
- Luis Angel “El Flaco”
Regional Mexican Song 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 – Eden Muñoz
Best New Artist – Regional Mexican
- Clave Especial
- Edgardo Nuñez
- Los Dos De Tamaulipas
- Óscar Maydon
- Oscar Ortiz
K-pop music nominees at the iHeartRadio Music Awards
K-pop Artist of the Year
- JENNIE
- j-hope
- Jin
- LISA
- ROSÉ
K-pop Group of the Year
- ATEEZ
- BLACKPINK
- ENHYPEN
- Stray Kids
- TWICE
K-pop Song of the Year
- APT. – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
- Golden – HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
- JUMP – BLACKPINK
- Killin’ It Girl – j-hope feat. GloRilla
- like JENNIE – JENNIE
Best New Artist – K-pop
- 82Major
- AllDay Project
- Cortis
- Hearts2Hearts
- Meovv
Songwriter of the Year
- Amy Allen
- Ashley Gorley
- Cal Shapiro
- Charlie Handsome
- Julia Michaels
Producer of the Year
- Andrew Watt
- Dijon
- Jack Antonoff
- Max Martin & Shellback
- Sounwave
