iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026: Complete list of nominees explored

2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards - Press Room - Source: Getty
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 (Image via Getty)

The iHeartRadio Music Awards have officially announced their nominations for this year. The nominees were unveiled by iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment. The iHeartRadio Music Awards ceremony will take place live at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

iHeartRadio Music Awards' 2025 winners were as follows,

  • Song of the Year: "Beautiful Things", Benson Boone
  • Pop Song of the Year: “Espresso”, Sabrina Carpenter
  • Album of the Year: “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”, Billie Eilish
  • Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
  • Pop Artist of the Year: Sabrina Carpenter
  • Pop Album of the Year: “The Tortured Poets Department”, Taylor Swift
  • Best Collaboration: “Die With a Smile”, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars
  • Best New Artist Pop: Teddy Swims
  • Country Artist of the Year: Jelly Roll
  • Country Song of the Year: “I Had Some Help”, Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
  • Country Album of the Year: “F 1 Trillion”, Post Malone
  • Best New Artist Country: Shaboozey
  • Hip Hop Song of the Year: “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
  • Hip Hop Artist of the Year: GloRilla
  • Hip Hop Album of the Year: “We Don’t Trust You”, Future, Metro Boomin
  • Best New Artist Hip Hop: BossMan Dlow
  • R&B Song of the Year: “Made For Me”, Muni Long
  • R&B Artist of the Year: SZA
  • R&B Album of the Year: “Coming Home”, Usher
  • Best New Artist R&B: 4Batz
  • World Artist of the Year: Tyla
  • Alternative Song of the Year: “Too Sweet”, Hozier
  • Alternative Album of the Year: “Clancy”, twenty one pilots
  • Alternative Artist of the Year: Green Day
  • Best New Artist Alt and Rock: Fontaines DC
  • Rock Song of the Year: “A Symptom of Being Human”, Shinedown
  • Rock Album of the Year: “From Zero”, Linkin Park
  • Rock Artist of the Year: Shinedown
  • Dance Artist of the Year: David Guetta
  • Dance Album of the Year: “brat”, Charli xcx
  • Latin Pop or Urban Song of the Year: “Perro Negro”, Bad Bunny, FEID
  • Latin Pop or Urban Artist of the Year: FEID
  • Latin Pop or Urban Album of the Year: “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”, Shakira
  • Best New Artist Latin Pop or Urban: Kapo
  • Regional Mexican Song of the Year: “Alch Si”, Grupo Frontera, Carin León
  • Regional Mexican Artist of the Year: Peso Pluma
  • Regional Mexican Album of the Year: “Exodo”, Peso Pluma
  • Best New Artist Regional Mexican: Xavi
  • Producer of the Year: Julian Bunetta
  • Songwriter of the Year: Amy Allen
  • K Pop Artist of the Year: ATEEZ
  • K Pop Song of the Year: “Who”, Jimin
  • K Pop Album of the Year: “Ate”, Stray Kids
  • Best New K Pop Artist: ILLIT
  • Favourite Soundtrack: Wicked
  • Favourite Broadway Debut: Rachel Zegler, Romeo plus Juliet
  • Favourite K Pop Dance Challenge: “GGUM”, Yeonjun, TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  • Favourite Surprise Guest: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce
  • Favourite Tour Tradition: Taylor Swift, Surprise songs
  • Best Lyrics: “Fortnight”, Taylor Swift, Post Malone
  • Best Music Video: “Fortnight”, Taylor Swift, Post Malone
  • Favourite Tour Style: Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour
  • Favourite Tour Photographer: Alfredo Flores, Sabrina Carpenter
  • Favourite On Screen: Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Taylor’s Version
  • Icon Award: Mariah Carey
  • Innovator Award: Lady Gaga
  • Tour of the Century: Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour
  • Label of the Year: Republic Records
  • Landmark Award: Nelly
  • Breakthrough Award: Gracie Abrams

The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations are led by Taylor Swift. She has received nine nominations. Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny follow with eight nominations each.

iHeartRadio Music Awards' official press release reads:

"The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2026. The show will feature award presentations in multiple categories, live performances from the biggest artists in music, surprise guests and collaborations, and more."

Complete list of nominees at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“Anxiety”, Doechii

“Good News”, Shaboozey

“Love Somebody”, Morgan Wallen

“luther”, Kendrick Lamar, 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

Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Bad Bunny

Benson Boone

Chris Brown

Jelly Roll

Kendrick Lamar

Lady Gaga

Morgan Wallen

Sabrina Carpenter

Tate McRae

Taylor Swift

Pop Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Alex Warren

Benson Boone

Sabrina Carpenter

Tate McRae

Taylor Swift

Pop Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“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 at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Alex Warren

Jessie Murph

Myles Smith

Ravyn Lenae

sombr

Duo or Group of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI

Linkin Park

Maroon 5

Shinedown

Twenty One Pilots

Best Collaboration at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“All The Way”, BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman

“APT.”, ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

“luther”, Kendrick Lamar, SZA

“Timeless”, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti

“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”, GloRilla, Sexyy Red

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

Country Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Jason Aldean

Jelly Roll

Lainey Wilson

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Best New Artist Country:

Chase Matthew

Ella Langley

Hudson Westbrook

Josh Ross

Zach Top

Hip Hop Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“luther”, Kendrick Lamar, SZA

“NOKIA”, Drake

“Outside”, Cardi B

“The Largest”, BigXthaPlug

“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”, GloRilla, Sexyy Red

Hip Hop Artist of the Year:

Cardi B

GloRilla

Kendrick Lamar

Playboi Carti

Tyler, The Creator

Best New Artist Hip Hop at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

MOLIY

PLUTO

Real Boston Richey

YKNIECE

ZEDDY WILL

R&B Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“Burning Blue”, Mariah the Scientist

“Folded”, Kehlani

“MUTT”, Leon Thomas

“Residuals”, Chris Brown

“SOMEBODY LOVES ME”, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake

R&B Artist of the Year:

Chris Brown

Kehlani

Leon Thomas

Mariah the Scientist

SZA

Best New Artist R&B at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Jenevieve

Kwn

Leon Thomas

Mariah the Scientist

Sailorr

World Artist of the Year:

Ayra Starr

Jackson Wang

JO1

MOLIY

Tyla

Alternative Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“Back To Friends”, sombr

“Ensenada”, Sublime

“One Eyed Bastard”, Green Day

“Stargazing”, Myles Smith

“The Contract”, Twenty One Pilots

Alternative Artist of the Year:

Cage the Elephant

Green Day

Linkin Park

Sublime

Twenty One Pilots

Best New Artist Alternative at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

almost monday

Gigi Perez

Lola Young

sombr

Rock Song of the Year:

“Afterlife”, Evanescence

“Bad Guy”, Falling In Reverse, Saraya

“Dance, Kid, Dance”, Shinedown

“Even If It Kills Me”, Papa Roach

“Heavy Is the Crown”, Linkin Park

Rock Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Linkin Park

Papa Roach

Shinedown

Sleep Token

Three Days Grace

Best New Artist Rock:

Architects

Poppy

Return to Dust

Sleep Theory

Spiritbox

Dance Song of the Year:

“Blessings”, Calvin Harris, Clementine Douglas

“In My Arms”, ILLENIUM, HAYLA

“No Broke Boys”, Disco Lines, Tinashe

“Save My Love”, Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, AVAION

“Won’t Be Possible”, Tiësto, Odd Mob, Goodboys

Dance Artist of the Year:

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

John Summit

Martin Garrix

Tiësto

Latin Pop or Urban Song of the Year:

“Angel”, Grupo Frontera, Romeo Santos

“DEGENERE”, Myke Towers, benny blanco

“DtMF”, Bad Bunny

“Qué Pasaría…”, Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny

“Soltera”, Shakira

Latin Pop or Urban Artist of the Year:

Bad Bunny

Feid

J Balvin

Karol G

Shakira

Best New Artist Latin Pop or Urban:

Alleh

Beéle

De La Rose

Dei V

Louis BPM

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

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Alejandro Fernández

Carín León

Fuerza Regida

Grupo Frontera

Luis Angel El Flaco

Best New Artist Regional Mexican:

Clave Especial

Edgardo Nuñez

Los Dos De Tamaulipas

Óscar Maydon

Oscar Ortiz

K Pop Artist of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

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, 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

Favorite Broadway Debut Socially Voted:

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

Tom Felton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Trisha Paytas, Beetlejuice

Favorite TikTok Dance Socially Voted:

“Abracadabra”, Lady Gaga

“Gnarly”, KATSEYE

“GO!”, CORTIS

“Happen To Me”, Russell Dickerson

“JUMP”, BLACKPINK

“like JENNIE”, JENNIE

“Midnight Sun”, Zara Larsson

“MONA LISA”, j hope

“Revolving Door”, Tate McRae

“SPAGHETTI”, LE SSERAFIM, j hope

“The Fate of Ophelia”, Taylor Swift

Favorite Debut Album Socially Voted:

Addison Rae, Addison

Alex Warren, You’ll Be Alright Kid

Audrey Hobert, Who’s the Clown

Calum Hood, ORDER chaos ORDER

Coco Jones, Why Not More

JADE, THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY

JENNIE, Ruby

LISA, Alter Ego

Michael Clifford, SIDEQUEST

Perrie, Perrie

sombr, I Barely Know Her

Tucker Wetmore, What Not To

Best Lyrics Socially Voted:

“Anxiety”, Doechii

“BAILE INoLVIDABLE”, Bad Bunny

“Camera”, Ed Sheeran

“Choosin’ Texas”, Ella Langley

“DAISIES”, Justin Bieber

“Golden”, HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI

“Man I Need”, Olivia Dean

“Manchild”, Sabrina Carpenter

“Ordinary”, Alex Warren

“The Fate of Ophelia”, Taylor Swift

“undressed”, sombr

“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”, RAYE

Best Music Video Socially Voted:

“Abracadabra”, Lady Gaga

“BAILE INoLVIDABLE”, Bad Bunny

“BORN AGAIN”, LISA, Doja Cat, 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, Silent Addy

“The Fate of Ophelia”, Taylor Swift

“toxic till the end”, ROSÉ

Favorite On Screen Socially Voted:

AJ McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, Kelly Rowland, Building the Band

Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Wicked For Good

Bad Bunny, Happy Gilmore 2

Becky G, REBBECA

Ed Sheeran, ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran A Musical Experience

Jimin, Jungkook, Are You Sure

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 Eras Tour The End of an Era

Zara Larsson, Up Close

Favorite Tour Photographer Socially Voted:

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

Rahul Bhatt, KATSEYE

Thomas Falcone, Shawn Mendes

Tom Pallant, YUNGBLUD

Favorite Soundtrack Socially Voted:

A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Original Soundtrack

F1 the Album

Frankenstein Soundtrack from the Netflix Film

KPop Demon Hunters

Nobody Wants This Season 2 The Soundtrack

Sinners Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Smurfs Movie Soundtrack Music From and Inspired By

Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere

Tron Ares Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Wicked For Good The Soundtrack

Zombies 4 Dawn of the Vampires Original Soundtrack

Favorite Tour Style Socially Voted:

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

Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift The Eras Tour

Zara Larsson, Midnight Sun Tour

Favorite Tour Tradition Socially Voted:

Benson Boone, Cover song

Beyoncé, Blue Ivy and Rumi on stage

Billie Eilish, when the party’s over silent loop

Coldplay, Crowd cam

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

Favorite K Pop Collab Socially Voted at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

“Blink”, Corbyn Besson, TZUYU of TWICE

“BORN AGAIN”, LISA, Doja Cat, RAYE

“BUCK”, Jackson Wang, Diljit Dosanjh

“Confessions”, Flo Rida, HEESEUNG, JAKE of ENHYPEN, Paul Russell

“Dirty Work”, aespa, Flo Milli

“ExtraL”, JENNIE, Doechii

“EYES CLOSED”, JISOO, ZAYN

“Illegal”, PinkPantheress, SEVENTEEN

“On My Mind”, Alex Warren, ROSÉ

“Sweet Dreams”, j hope, Miguel

“TOO BAD”, G DRAGON, Anderson Paak

“WE PRAY TWICE Version”, Coldplay, TWICE, Burna Boy, Elyanna, TINI, Little Simz


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Edited by Gourab Kundu