Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Sabrina Carpenter are leading the nominations for the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026. The annual event, which celebrates the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and its app throughout 2025, will take place on March 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year's ceremony marks the 13th iteration of the popular awards show.
Swift received a total of nine nominations, including major categories such as Song of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," Artist of the Year, and Pop Artist of the Year. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren each secured eight nominations, showcasing a broad range of talent across different genres.
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Swift leads with nine nominations.
- Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren each received eight nominations.
- The awards celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio in 2025.
- Fan voting is open until March 19 for several categories.
Taylor Swift Dominates Major Categories
Taylor Swift's strong showing at this year's iHeartRadio Music Awards nominations highlights her significant impact on the music landscape in 2025. Her nine nominations place her at the forefront of the competition.
Her hit track, "The Fate of Ophelia," is a contender for the coveted Song of the Year award. She also competes for Artist of the Year, a category that recognizes overall artistic achievement and popularity.
Did You Know?
Taylor Swift's nine nominations include nods for Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Pop Artist of the Year, making her the most nominated artist.
Other artists like Kendrick Lamar, Benson Boone, Doechii, Morgan Wallen, and Leon Thomas also received nominations across various categories. The diversity of nominees reflects the wide array of music played and celebrated by iHeartRadio listeners.
A Look at the Top Nominees
Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren are tied for the second-highest number of nominations, each with eight. This recognition underscores their widespread appeal and success over the past year.
Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" is nominated for both Song of the Year and Pop Song of the Year, indicating its popularity among fans and radio audiences. Alex Warren also sees his track "Ordinary" nominated in these same categories, highlighting his rising profile.
"This is an annual awards show made exclusively for fans, celebrating the biggest songs and artists they've loved listening to on iHeartRadio stations and our iHeartRadio app all year long," stated John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises, and Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer of iHeartMedia. "Fox viewers will also get an exclusive preview of some of the songs they'll be listening to in the Summer of ‘26."
The awards show is known for its fan-centric approach, allowing listeners to vote in several categories. This direct involvement from the audience adds a unique element to the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Fan-Voted Categories and Social Voting
A significant aspect of the iHeartRadio Music Awards is the inclusion of fan-voted categories. These categories give listeners the power to directly influence who wins. Social voting for these awards began today and will continue until March 19.
Categories open for fan voting include Favorite TikTok Dance, Best Lyrics, Favorite Soundtrack, and Favorite Tour Style. These categories often highlight current trends and cultural moments that resonate deeply with fans.
Awards Background
The iHeartRadio Music Awards honor artists based on their performance on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout the previous year. The telecast will air on Fox, bringing the celebration to a national audience.
For example, "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift is nominated for Favorite TikTok Dance, showcasing the song's virality on social media platforms. "Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter and "Ordinary" by Alex Warren are also nominated in Best Lyrics, further emphasizing the connection between artists and their audience through meaningful songwriting.
Nominees Across Genres
The iHeartRadio Music Awards cast a wide net, recognizing talent across numerous genres, from Pop and Hip-Hop to Country, R&B, Alternative, Rock, Dance, Latin, Regional Mexican, and K-pop.
- Pop Artist of the Year: Alex Warren, Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift.
- Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Cardi B, GloRilla, Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Tyler, The Creator.
- Country Artist of the Year: Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen.
- R&B Artist of the Year: Chris Brown, Kehlani, Leon Thomas, Mariah the Scientist, SZA.
- K-pop Artist of the Year: JENNIE, j-hope, Jin, LISA, ROSÉ.
This extensive list ensures that a diverse range of musical artists and their contributions are acknowledged, reflecting the varied tastes of iHeartRadio's listening audience.
Breakthrough Artists Recognized
The awards also shine a spotlight on emerging talent through the Best New Artist categories. These nominations are crucial for artists who have made a significant breakthrough in the past year, offering them wider recognition and exposure.
New artist nominees include Jessie Murph and Myles Smith in Pop, Chase Matthew and Ella Langley in Country, and MOLIY and PLUTO in Hip-Hop. The K-pop category also features new artists like 82Major and Meovv, indicating the genre's continued global expansion.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 promise to be a night celebrating both established stars and promising new voices in the music industry. Viewers can tune in on March 26 to see who takes home the coveted awards.