Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter Dominate iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 Nominations

The nominations for the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 have officially been announced, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated global music celebrations of the year. Leading the nominations list is Taylor Swift, reaffirming her dominance across charts, streaming platforms and radio airwaves. She is closely followed by Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter, both of whom have enjoyed a career-defining year.

Taylor Swift has emerged as the most-nominated artist with nine nominations, including top categories such as Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop Artist of the Year. Her continued presence at the forefront of global pop reflects sustained audience engagement, massive radio play and strong digital performance throughout the year. One of her standout tracks, The Fate of Ophelia, is among the frontrunners in the Song of the Year category.

Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter follow closely with eight nominations each, highlighting their strong crossover appeal. Bad Bunny’s nominations span both pop and Latin categories, reinforcing his influence beyond language barriers. His songs DtMF and Que Pasaria (with Rauw Alejandro) are nominated in Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year, while he also features in Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year alongside names like Shakira, J Balvin and Feid.

Sabrina Carpenter’s rise continues to gather momentum, with her track Manchild earning a Song of the Year nomination. Her growing presence in mainstream pop categories reflects her evolution from a breakout act to a consistent chart performer with a loyal fan base.

The Song of the Year category presents a competitive lineup featuring Anxiety by Doechii, Good News by Shaboozey, The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift, Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter and Love Somebody by Morgan Wallen. The diversity of genres in this category highlights the wide musical spectrum embraced by listeners over the past year.

K-pop continues its global expansion at the awards, with nominations for artists such as JENNIE, j-hope and ROSÉ. Songs like APT. by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, JUMP by BLACKPINK and Killin’ It Girl by j-hope further demonstrate the genre’s growing international footprint.

Other major categories include R&B, rock, alternative, country and dance music, featuring chart-toppers from Chris Brown, Drake, Linkin Park, Evanescence, Green Day, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen. The awards also spotlight emerging talent through multiple Best New Artist categories, reflecting the evolving nature of the global music industry.

The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards will be held on March 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and broadcast live on Fox. Several fan-voted categories remain open until March 19, allowing audiences to directly influence the final outcomes.

With a blend of established superstars and rising voices, this year’s nominations underline the continued shift in how music is consumed, celebrated and shaped by fan engagement across digital and broadcast platforms.