In the latest announcement for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Taylor Swift has emerged as the leading nominee, earning nine nominations across a diverse array of categories. Following Swift are Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren, each amassing eight nominations.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards focus on celebrating artists and songs that have garnered significant airplay on iHeartRadio's stations and app throughout the year. Earlier editions of the awards have consistently placed Swift at the forefront, with her previously sharing the top spot alongside Morgan Wallen in the prior year, when both received ten nominations. Swift had also been the most nominated artist in both 2023 and 2024, sharing the spotlight with other high-profile performers such as Lizzo and Harry Styles.
This year, Swift’s nominations span a range of categories, including Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite On Screen, Favorite Tour Style, as well as a newly introduced, fan-voted category for Favorite TikTok Dance. The inclusion of this new category reflects the growing influence of social media trends on music consumption and fan engagement.
John Sykes, president of entertainment enterprises, alongside Tom Poleman, chief programming officer of iHeartMedia, jointly remarked, "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." Their statement underscores the awards' focus on listener preferences and engagement across iHeartRadio's platforms.
Competition in the Artist of the Year category is intense, with nominees including Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Benson Boone, Chris Brown, Jelly Roll, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Tate McRae, all recognized for their extensive radio play and streaming presence on iHeartRadio during the eligibility period.
Swift’s track “The Fate of Ophelia” will compete in the Song of the Year category against tracks such as Wallen's “Love Somebody,” Carpenter's “Manchild,” Boone’s “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else,” Doechii’s “Anxiety,” Shaboozey’s “Good News,” Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” the collaboration “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Leon Thomas’ “Mutt,” and Myles Smith’s “Stargazing.” This diverse array of songs highlights the broad spectrum of genres represented in the awards.
Fans have the opportunity to participate actively in the awards by voting in various categories including 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. Voting is facilitated through the official iHeartRadio website, with the deadline set for March 19 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for live broadcast on March 26 at 8 p.m. EDT from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Viewers can tune in via FOX as well as iHeartRadio’s stations and digital app, ensuring broad accessibility and audience reach.