Alex Warren, Benson Boone, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Leon Thomas, Morgan Wallen, Myles Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey and Taylor Swift nominated for Song of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Taylor Swift leads with most nominations followed by Alex Warren, Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter

The annual awards show airs live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 26 on FOX

New York, N.Y. – January 8, 2026 – iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment today announced the nominees for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards airing LIVE from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 26 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The event will also be heard on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.

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 will showcase the stories of the winning artists’ road to #1.

“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,” said 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.”

Artists receiving several nominations include Alex Warren, Bad Bunny, Benson Boone, BLACKPINK, Chris Brown, Ed Sheeran, Ella Langley, GloRilla, Grupo Frontera, HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, Jelly Roll, JENNIE, j-hope, KATSEYE, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Linkin Park, LISA, Mariah the Scientist, MOLIY, Morgan Wallen, Myles Smith, RAYE, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter, Shinedown, sombr, SZA, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift, Twenty One Pilots and Zara Larsson. All nominees are listed below.

In addition to paying tribute to music and artists, the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards will again celebrate the fans, giving iHeartRadio listeners the opportunity to decide winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s 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. Social voting begins today, January 8, and will close on March 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.

This year’s awards will once again feature a broad array of categories:

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

Artist of the Year:

• 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:

• 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 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:

• 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:

• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
• “NOKIA” – Drake
• “Outside” – Cardi B
• “The Largest” – BigXthaPlug
• “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red

Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:

• Cardi B
• GloRilla
• Kendrick Lamar
• Playboi Carti
• Tyler, The Creator

Best New Artist (Hip-Hop):

• MOLIY
• PLUTO
• Real Boston Richey
• YKNIECE
• ZEDDY WILL

R&B Song of the Year:

• “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):

• 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:

• “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):

• almost monday
• Gigi Perez
• Lola Young
• Role Model
• sombr

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

Rock Artist of the Year:

• 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 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

Dance Artist of the Year:

• Calvin Harris
• David Guetta
• John Summit
• Martin Garrix
• Tiësto

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

Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year:

• Bad Bunny
• Feid
• J Balvin
• Karol G
• Shakira

Best New Artist (Latin Pop/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:

• 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:

• 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

Favorite Broadway Debut: *Socially Voted Category 

• 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”

(New for 2026) Favorite TikTok Dance: *Socially Voted Category 

• “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

(New for 2026) Favorite Debut Album: *Socially Voted Category 

• 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 Category 

• “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 Category 

• “Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga
• “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” – Bad Bunny
• “BORN AGAIN” – LISA feat. 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 Category 

• 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 and 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 Category 

• Abby Waisler for Gracie Abrams
• Adam DeGross for Post Malone
• Anna Lee for Coldplay
• baeth for Tate McRae
• Chris Cornejo for Shakira
• Cynthia Parkhurst for Katy Perry
• Henry Hwu for Billie Eilish
• Hyghly for The Weeknd
• Joshua Halling for Oasis
• Rahul Bhatt for KATSEYE
• Thomas Falcone for Shawn Mendes
• Tom Pallant for YUNGBLUD

Favorite Soundtrack: *Socially Voted Category 

• “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 & 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 Category 

• 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 Category 

• Benson Boone, Cover song
• Beyoncé, Blue Ivy & 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

(New for 2026) Favorite K-pop Collab: *Socially Voted Category 

• “Blink” – Corbyn Besson & TZUYU of TWICE
• “BORN AGAIN” – LISA feat. Doja Cat & RAYE
• “BUCK” – Jackson Wang feat. Diljit Dosanjh
• “Confessions” – Flo Rida, HEESEUNG & JAKE of ENHYPEN, Paul Russell
• “Dirty Work” – aespa feat. Flo Milli
• “ExtraL” – JENNIE, Doechii
• “EYES CLOSED” – JISOO X ZAYN
• “Illegal + SEVENTEEN” – PinkPantheress, SEVENTEEN
• “On My Mind” – Alex Warren & ROSÉ
• “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” – j-hope, Miguel
• “TOO BAD” – G-DRAGON feat. Anderson .Paak
• “WE PRAY (TWICE Version)” – Coldplay, TWICE, Burna Boy, Elyanna, TINI, Little Simz

Additional categories include Label of the Year and individual winners for Album of the Year in music’s biggest genres, including Pop, Country, Alternative, Rock, Dance, Hip-Hop, R&B, Latin and Regional Mexican formats.

For a full list of categories, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.

Since the iHeartRadio Music Awards’ inception in 2014, the show has included live performances and appearances by superstar artists, such as Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Big Sean, Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Cher, Chris Martin, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Justin Bieber, Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, P!NK, Pitbull, Rihanna, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and many others. Among the many winners of the 2025 Awards were Benson Boone for Song of the Year; Taylor Swift for Artist of the Year; and Billie Eilish for Album of the Year. The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards also honored Mariah Carey with the 2025 iHeartRadio Icon Award and Lady Gaga with the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award.

For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards or follow the social buzz on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Artists and/or events subject to change or cancellation without notice. 

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