If you're wondering when is iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026, here's everything you need to know.
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on FOX from 8-10 p.m. ET and will be tape-delayed for viewers on the West Coast.
Each year, the awards recognize the most-played artists and songs across iHeartRadio stations and digital platforms - reflecting what fans listened to most throughout 2025.
Who Is Leading the Nominations?
Nominations were officially announced on January 8, 2026, and this year's race is already generating buzz.
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Taylor Swift leads with nine nominations
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Alex Warren, Bad Bunny, and Sabrina Carpenter follow closely with eight nominations each
The ceremony will celebrate music across multiple genres and introduce new categories for 2026, including:
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Favorite TikTok Dance
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Favorite Debut Album
These additions highlight how music continues to evolve through social media influence and breakout artists.
How Does Voting Work?
Fans can participate through social voting, which opened on January 8, 2026, and runs through March 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Select categories are entirely fan-determined, giving audiences a direct voice in the outcome.
Performers and presenters for the evening have not yet been announced, but the event traditionally features major collaborations, surprise appearances, and viral moments.
More Than Just an Awards Show
While the iHeartRadio Music Awards spotlight mainstream chart success, the event also reflects broader cultural influence - showing how music shapes identity, trends, and conversation worldwide.
For many artists, award nights are more than trophies. They're moments of gratitude, reflection, and influence. In an industry often driven by numbers and streams, these stages can also become platforms for meaningful messages - including faith, hope, and resilience - when artists choose to use their voices for something greater.
Mark your calendar: March 26, 2026.
The countdown is officially on.
