Honestly, looking at the list of 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominees, you’d think time just stopped somewhere in 2024. But then you look closer. You see names like Shaboozey and Alex Warren sitting right next to Taylor Swift, and it hits you—the radio landscape shifted while we were all staring at our phones.
The 13th annual show, coming to us live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26, 2026, isn't just a popularity contest. It’s a data dump. iHeartRadio tracks what we actually listen to on the road and in our kitchens. And if the nominations are any indication, we are currently obsessed with three things: Taylor Swift’s never-ending "Eras" era, a massive influx of K-pop crossovers, and the total destruction of genre boundaries.
The Heavy Hitters Leading the Pack
Taylor Swift is leading with nine nominations. Nine. It’s almost getting predictable at this point, but when you realize she’s up for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," it makes sense. People just don't stop hitting play on her tracks.
But she isn’t alone at the top. Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bad Bunny all snagged eight nominations each. That’s a massive jump for Warren. He’s basically gone from a TikTok star to a legitimate radio staple in what feels like a weekend.
Then there's the Artist of the Year category. It’s a literal bloodbath. You’ve got:
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- Bad Bunny
- Benson Boone
- Chris Brown
- Jelly Roll
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
- Taylor Swift
Imagine trying to pick one person out of that list to represent "2025 in music." It's impossible. Kendrick is there probably because of the absolute cultural earthquake he caused with "luther" (feat. SZA), while Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen are holding the line for a country-rock hybrid that has basically taken over the Top 40.
Why 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Look Different
Every year, they add new categories to stay relevant. For 2026, we have some interesting additions. Favorite TikTok Dance is a thing now, which makes sense since that’s where most of us find new music anyway. There’s also Favorite Debut Album and Favorite K-pop Collab.
The K-pop collaboration category is particularly wild. It’s not just "K-pop artists" anymore; it’s a global mesh. You have "On My Mind" by Alex Warren & ROSÉ, and then "BORN AGAIN" with LISA featuring Doja Cat and RAYE. It shows that the "foreign language" barrier in radio is basically dead.
Breaking Down the Genre Walls
Let’s talk about Song of the Year. It’s the biggest award of the night. The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominees for this one are:
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- “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
If you played these ten songs back-to-back, you’d get whiplash. Doechii’s "Anxiety" is a sharp, modern hip-hop track, while Shaboozey’s "Good News" is basically a country-fried anthem. It’s a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess that reflects how we actually listen to music now—one playlist, no rules.
The Socially Voted Chaos
One thing that makes iHeart different is the fan voting. For most of these, the data decides. But for categories like Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, and Favorite Tour Tradition, it’s up to the fans.
The "Favorite Tour Tradition" category is kinda hilarious because it acknowledges the weird things artists do every night. You’ve got Sabrina Carpenter’s "celebrity Juno arrest" and Tate McRae’s "fan cam on stage." These aren't just about the music; they're about the memes.
Voting is open until March 19, 2026. If you want your favorite to win, you basically have to live on the iHeartRadio website for the next few weeks.
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What the 2026 Nominations Tell Us About the Future
A lot of people think these awards are just "Industry back-patting." Maybe. But look at the Best New Artist categories.
In the Pop category, you have Alex Warren and Myles Smith. In Country, it’s Ella Langley and Hudson Westbrook. These aren't names that were household words two years ago. The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominees prove that the gatekeepers are losing power. If people stream it, the radio will eventually have to play it.
The Logistics: When and Where to Watch
The ceremony airs Thursday, March 26, 2026, on FOX. It starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’re on the West Coast, it’s tape-delayed, so stay off Twitter (or X, or whatever it's called by then) if you don't want spoilers.
You can also listen to it—fittingly—on iHeartRadio stations nationwide.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to have a say in who takes home the trophy for the social categories, head over to the iHeartRadio voting portal before the March 19 deadline. You can also check out the official "2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards" playlist on the app to hear the full list of Song of the Year contenders back-to-back.