Music
Taylor Swift was the top winner at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which took place live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
“The Fate of Ophelia” singer went into the Ludacris-hosted ceremony, which aired on Fox and could be heard on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and the iHeartRadio app, with the most nominations, nine, leading the field for the fourth year in a row.
And she left the night with the most wins, with seven total. She earned the coveted title of artist of the year, and won additional honors including best music video, pop song of the year and lyrics, among others.
Swift stopped by the awards show, making her first awards show appearance of 2026, where her fiancé Travis Kelce also attended in support. During her acceptance speech for for pop album of the year, tied to her 2025 record The Life of a Showgirl, she sung praise toward her fiancé.
“The album The Life of a Showgirl was really inspired by the energy that I felt looking into crowds and seeing you guys and connecting with you every single night. And so the album came out with this energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free, and so I wanna say thank you to the fans for for giving me that feeling,” Swift said. “This album probably also feels very happy and confident and free because that’s the way that I get to feel every single day of my life, because of my fiancé, who’s here tonight.”
Other top winners at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards included Alex Warren, with five awards total, including song of the year, best new pop artist and favorite debut album, among others. Best new artists were named in various categories, including Ella Langley (country); Real Boston Richey (hip-hop); Leon Thomas (R&B); sombr (alternative); Sleep Theory (rock); Beéle (Latin Pop/Urban); Los Dos De Tamaulipas (Regional Mexican); and Cortis (K-pop).
Sabrina Carpenter was named the pop artist of the year, as Kendrick Lamar earned the same honor in the hip-hop category. Amy Allen won songwriter of the year, as Andrew Watt took home the producer of the year title.
Warren, Carpenter and Bad Bunny went into the night with eight nominations each, with Swift, Carpenter and Bad Bunny up for artist of the year alongside Lamar, Benson Boone, Chris Brown, Jelly Roll Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae.
The awards show honored John Mellencamp with the iHeartRadio Icon Award along with Ludacris with the iHeartRadio Landmark Award, Miley Cyrus with the iHeartRadio Innovator Award and Warren with the iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. Ludacris and Warren also performed at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Additional performers included Kehlani, Lainey Wilson, Raye and, performing together for the first time, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. Alysa Liu, Ne-Yo, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, sombr and Weezer also appeared on the show.
The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025. This year’s show was executive produced by Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannaé Rouzan-Clay for Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) as well as John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia and Fox Entertainment Studios.
A complete list of this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards winners follows.
Music
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 (WINNER)
“Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” – Benson Boone
“Stargazing” – Myles Smith
“The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift
Music
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Benson Boone
Chris Brown
Jelly Roll
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
Music
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift, “The Life of a Showgirl” (WINNER)
Music
Pop Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Sabrina Carpenter (WINNER)
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Music
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 (WINNER)
Music
Pop Album of the Year
Taylor Swift, “The Life of a Showgirl” (WINNER)
Music
Best New Artist (Pop)
Alex Warren (WINNER)
Jessie Murph
Myles Smith
Ravyn Lenae
sombr
Music
Duo/Group of the Year
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI (WINNER)
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
Shinedown
Twenty One Pilots
Music
Best Collaboration
“All The Way” – BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman
“APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars (WINNER)
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Timeless” – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Music
Country Song of the Year
“After All The Bars Are Closed” – Thomas Rhett
“Good News” – Shaboozey (WINNER)
“Liar” – Jelly Roll
“Love Somebody” – Morgan Wallen
“Whiskey Drink” – Jason Aldean
Music
Country Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Jelly Roll
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Music
Best New Artist (Country)
Chase Matthew
Ella Langley (WINNER)
Hudson Westbrook
Josh Ross
Zach Top
Music
Country Album of the Year
Morgan Wallen “I’m The Problem” (WINNER)
Music
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA (WINNER)
“NOKIA” – Drake
“Outside” – Cardi B
“The Largest” – BigXthaPlug
“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Music
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Cardi B
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
Music
Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)
MOLIY
PLUTO
Real Boston Richey (WINNER)
YKNIECE
ZEDDY WILL
Music
R&B Song of the Year
“Burning Blue” – Mariah the Scientist
“Folded” – Kehlani (WINNER)
“MUTT” – Leon Thomas
“Residuals” – Chris Brown
“SOMEBODY LOVES ME” – PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
Music
R&B Artist of the Year
Chris Brown (WINNER)
Kehlani
Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
SZA
Music
Best New Artist (R&B)
Jenevieve
Kwn
Leon Thomas (WINNER)
Mariah the Scientist
Sailorr
Music
R&B Album of the Year
Leon Thomas, “PHOLKS” (WINNER)
Music
World Artist of the Year
Ayra Starr
Jackson Wang
JO1
MOLIY (WINNER)
Tyla
Music
Alternative Song of the Year
“Back To Friends” – sombr
“Ensenada” – Sublime (WINNER)
“One Eyed Bastard” – Green Day
“Stargazing” – Myles Smith
“The Contract” – Twenty One Pilots
Music
Alternative Artist of the Year
Cage the Elephant
Green Day
Linkin Park
Sublime
Twenty One Pilots (WINNER)
Music
Best New Artist (Alternative)
almost monday
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
Role Model
sombr (WINNER)
Music
Alternative Album of the Year
sombr, “I Barely Know Her” (WINNER)
Music
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 (WINNER)
Music
Rock Artist of the Year
Linkin Park
Papa Roach
Shinedown (WINNER)
Sleep Token
Three Days Grace
Music
Best New Artist (Rock)
Architects
Poppy
Return to Dust
Sleep Theory (WINNER)
Spiritbox
Music
Dance Song of the Year
“Blessings” – Calvin Harris feat. Clementine Douglas
“In My Arms” – ILLENIUM & HAYLA
“No Broke Boys” – Disco Lines & Tinashe (WINNER)
“Save My Love” – Marshmello, Ellie Goulding and AVAION
“Won’t Be Possible” – Tiësto, Odd Mob & Goodboys
Music
Dance Artist of the Year
Calvin Harris
David Guetta (WINNER)
John Summit
Martin Garrix
Tiësto
Music
Dance Album of the Year
Lady Gaga, “MAYHEM” (WINNER)
Music
Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year
“Angel” – Grupo Frontera & Romeo Santos
“DEGENERE” – Myke Towers & benny blanco
“DtMF” – Bad Bunny (WINNER)
“Qué Pasaría…” – Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny
“Soltera” – Shakira
Music
Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
Feid
J Balvin
Karol G
Shakira
Music
Latin Pop/Urban Album of the Year
Bad Bunny, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” (WINNER)
Music
Best New Artist (Latin Pop/Urban)
Alleh Mezher
Beéle (WINNER)
De La Rose
Dei V
Louis BPM
Music
Regional Mexican Song of the Year
“Amor Bonito” – Luis Angel “El Flaco” (WINNER)
“El Amor De Mi Vida” – Calibre 50
“Flores” – Xavi
“Hecha Pa’ Mi” – Grupo Frontera
“Lejos Estamos Mejor” – Eden Muñoz
Music
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year
Alejandro Fernández
Carin León
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera (WINNER)
Luis Angel “El Flaco”
Music
Best New Artist (Regional Mexican)
Clave Especial
Edgardo Nuñez
Los Dos De Tamaulipas (WINNER)
Óscar Maydon
Oscar Ortiz
Music
Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year
Fuerza Regida “111XPANTIA” (WINNER)
Music
K-pop Artist of the Year
JENNIE
j-hope
Jin
LISA
ROSÉ (WINNER)
Music
K-pop Group of the Year
ATEEZ
BLACKPINK
ENHYPEN
Stray Kids (WINNER)
TWICE
Music
K-pop Song of the Year
“APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
“Golden” – HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI (WINNER)
“JUMP” – BLACKPINK
“Killin’ It Girl” – j-hope feat. GloRilla
“like JENNIE” – JENNIE
Music
Best New Artist (K-pop)
82Major
AllDay Project
Cortis (WINNER)
Hearts2Hearts
Meovv
Music
K-pop Album of the Year
Jennie, “Ruby” (WINNER)
Music
Songwriter of the Year
Amy Allen (WINNER)
Ashley Gorley
Cal Shapiro
Charlie Handsome
Julia Michaels
Music
Producer of the Year
Andrew Watt (WINNER)
Dijon
Jack Antonoff
Max Martin & Shellback
Sounwave
Music
Favorite Broadway Debut
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” (WINNER)
Trisha Paytas, “Beetlejuice”
Music
Favorite TikTok Dance
“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 (WINNER)
“Revolving Door” – Tate McRae
“SPAGHETTI” – LE SSERAFIM, j-hope
“The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift
Music
Favorite Debut Album
Addison Rae, “Addison”
Alex Warren, “You’ll Be Alright, Kid” (WINNER)
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”
Music
Best Lyrics
“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 (WINNER)
“undressed” – sombr
“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – RAYE
Music
Best Music Video
“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 (WINNER)
“toxic till the end” – ROSÉ
Music
Favorite On Screen
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?!” (WINNER)
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”
Music
Favorite Tour Photographer
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 (WINNER)
Thomas Falcone for Shawn Mendes
Tom Pallant for YUNGBLUD
Music
Favorite Soundtrack
“A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (Original Soundtrack)”
“F1 the Album”
“Frankenstein (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)”
“KPop Demon Hunters” (WINNER)
“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)”
Music
Favorite Tour Style
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” (WINNER)
Zara Larsson, “Midnight Sun Tour”
Music
Favorite Tour Tradition
Benson Boone, Cover song
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy & Rumi on stage
Billie Eilish, “when the party’s over” silent loop
Coldplay, Crowd cam (WINNER)
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
Music
Favorite K-pop Collab
“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 (WINNER)
“TOO BAD” – G-DRAGON feat. Anderson .Paak
“WE PRAY (TWICE Version)” – Coldplay, TWICE, Burna Boy, Elyanna, TINI, Little Simz