2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards: Taylor Swift Tops Nominations List

The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards are set to take center stage on March 26, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The annual celebration of chart-topping hits and artist achievements will broadcast live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT (with a tape-delayed broadcast on the West Coast), honoring the most-played songs and performers across iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025.

Nomination Leaders

The nominations were officially announced on January 8, 2026, and Taylor Swift emerged as the most-nominated artist this year with nine nods — the highest of any act on this year’s ballot. She’s joined at the top by Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren, each earning eight nominations..

Swift’s nominations span major categories such as Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, and multiple fan-voted awards including Best Music Video, Best Lyrics, Favorite On Screen, and Favorite TikTok Dance.

Standout Categories & Highlights

⭐ Artist of the Year

Nominees include:

• Bad Bunny

• Benson Boone

• Chris Brown

• Jelly Roll

• Kendrick Lamar

• Lady Gaga

• Morgan Wallen

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Tate McRae

• Taylor Swift

🎵 Song of the Year

Contenders for this marquee honor include:

• “Anxiety” – Doechii

• “Good News” – Shaboozey

• “Love Somebody” – Morgan Wallen

• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA

• “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

• “Ordinary” – Alex Warren

• “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift

  
  

🏆 Fan-Voted Categories

Fan voting opened on January 8 and closes on March 19, 2026. Fans can vote in numerous socially voted categories such as:

• Best Music Video

• Favorite On Screen

• Favorite Soundtrack

• Favorite Tour Photographer

• Favorite TikTok Dance

• Favorite Broadway Debut

• Best Lyrics

• Favorite K-pop Collab

…and more.

These categories reflect iHeartRadio’s growing emphasis on fan participation and social engagement, giving listeners a direct voice in who takes home awards.

What to Expect From the Show

The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards not only recognize music industry success but also highlight live performances, surprise guest appearances, and cross-genre representation from pop and hip-hop to Latin, K-pop, rock, and country. With a diverse slate of nominees and strong fan engagement, the 2026 show promises to be one of the most-watched editions to date.

How to Watch

• FOX — Live broadcast starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (tape delayed in parts of the country)

• iHeartRadio app and stations — Streaming and radio coverage throughout the evening