Written By: Wanjiru Waweru
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards were an extravagant night.
The Ludacris-hosted show aired live on FOX, Thursday evening, March 26, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Rising Stars, Alex Warren earned the 2026 iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award for “Ordinary,” and Ella Langley received the New Country Artist of the Year Award. Alongside Kehlani, won R&B Song of the Year for “Folded”.
The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards honored the most-streamed artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and app through 2025. The show featured three recent categories this year: “Favorite TikTok Dance”, “Favorite Debut Album”, and “Favorite K-Pop Collab.”
Performers such as Warren, Ludacris, Kehlani, RAYE, and Lainey Wilson took the stage for the night!
Review the Winners’ List
Winners – Bold
General 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
Winner: “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
Winner: Taylor Swift
Duo/Group of the Year
Winner: HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
Linkin Park
Maroon 5
Shinedown
Twenty One Pilots
Best Collaboration
“All The Way” – BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman
Winner: “APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Timeless” – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Amy Allen
Ashley Gorley
Cal Shapiro
Charlie Handsome
Julia Michaels
Producer of the Year
Winner: Andrew Watt
Dijon
Jack Antonoff
Max Martin & Shellback
Sounwave
Album of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift, “The Life of a Showgirl”
Special Awards
Breakthrough Award – Alex Warren
Innovator Award – Miley Cyrus
Icon Award – John Mellencamp
Landmark Award – Ludacris
Pop Categories
Pop Artist of the Year
Alex Warren
Benson Boone
Winner: 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
Winner: “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift
Best New Artist (Pop)
Winner: Alex Warren
Jessie Murph
Myles Smith
Ravyn Lenae
sombr
Pop Album of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift, “The Life of a Showgirl”
Country Categories
Country Song of the Year
“After All The Bars Are Closed” – Thomas Rhett
Winner: “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
Winner: Morgan Wallen
Best New Artist (Country)
Chase Matthew
Winner: Ella Langley
Hudson Westbrook
Josh Ross
Zach Top
Country Album of the Year
Winner: Morgan Wallen, “I’m the Problem”
Hip-Hop Categories
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
Winner: “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
Winner: Kendrick Lamar
Playboi Carti
Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)
MOLIY
PLUTO
Winner: Real Boston Richey
YKNIECE
ZEDDY WILL
Hip-Hop Album of the Year
Winner: Kendrick Lamar, “GNX”
R&B Categories
R&B Song of the Year
“Burning Blue” – Mariah the Scientist
Winner: “Folded” – Kehlani
“MUTT” – Leon Thomas
“Residuals” – Chris Brown
“SOMEBODY LOVES ME” – PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
R&B Artist of the Year
Winner: Chris Brown
Kehlani
Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
SZA
Best New Artist (R&B)
Jenevieve
Kwn
Winner: Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Sailorr
R&B Album of the Year
Winner: Leon Thomas, “PHOLKS”
Additional Genre Categories
Alternative, Rock, Dance & World
Similarly, multiple genres were represented across the night. For example, Twenty One Pilots won Alternative Artist of the Year, while Shinedown took Rock Artist of the Year. At the same time, David Guetta secured Dance Artist of the Year, and MOLIY earned World Artist of the Year.
Latin, Regional Mexican & K-Pop Highlights
In addition, global categories saw major wins. Bad Bunny dominated Latin categories, while Grupo Frontera and Fuerza Regida led Regional Mexican. Meanwhile, ROSÉ and Stray Kids stood out in K-pop categories.
Socially Voted Categories & Fan Favorites
Finally, fan-voted categories brought strong engagement. Taylor Swift led multiple wins, including Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, and Favorite Tour Style. Likewise, j-hope, Tom Felton, and Coldplay also secured standout fan-voted victories.
Find Your Local Radio Station on iHeartRadio
Stream the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Hulu
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