The 2026 **iHeartRadio Music Awards** nominations are here, recognizing music’s biggest stars with announcements made on January 8, 2026. This exciting **music industry news** comes from iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment, revealing the nominees for the annual show that celebrates the past year’s hit music and artists. The ceremony is set to take place on March 26, 2026, broadcasting live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on FOX and streaming on iHeartRadio platforms. This marks the 13th year for the **iHeartRadio Music Awards**, which focus on songs played on iHeartRadio and highlight upcoming music. The **hip hop music** and **R&B music artists** categories are particularly strong this year, with many major artists receiving nods. Kendrick Lamar leads the hip hop categories, earning five nominations including Artist of the Year and Hip-Hop Artist of the Year for his impactful work. His song “luther”, featuring SZA, is nominated for Song of the Year, Hip-Hop Song of the Year, and Best Collaboration, showcasing Lamar’s significant impact at the **iHeartRadio Music Awards**. Doechii also earned key **iHeartRadio nominations**, with her song “Anxiety” nominated for Song of the Year and for Best Lyrics, marking a significant moment for her music career. Several other prominent artists received nominations for the **music awards 2026**, with Taylor Swift leading with nine nods overall. Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bad Bunny follow closely, each with eight nominations. Morgan Wallen earned multiple nominations, including for Artist of the Year, and his song “Love Somebody” is nominated for Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year. Jelly Roll is nominated for Artist of the Year, and Shaboozey’s “Good News” is nominated for Song of the Year. The hip hop and R&B field is especially competitive, with Drake, Cardi B, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Playboi Carti, and BigXthaPlug all receiving nominations and contending for Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. Several tracks compete for Hip-Hop Song of the Year, including Drake’s “NOKIA”, Cardi B’s “Outside”, BigXthaPlug’s “The Largest”, and GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”. The Best New Artist category is also exciting, with MOLIY nominated for Best New Hip-Hop Artist, alongside PLUTO, Real Boston Richey, YKNIECE, and ZEDDY WILL, all showcasing the future of music. R&B artists also received significant attention, with Leon Thomas earning multiple nominations across R&B and pop categories. Chris Brown and Mariah the Scientist are nominated for R&B Song of the Year, and Kehlani is also a nominee. SZA’s presence is felt across categories, with her collaboration with Lamar being a major contender at the **iHeartRadio Music Awards**.
Fan Involvement in the iHeartRadio Music Awards
The **iHeartRadio Music Awards** are known for fan involvement, allowing fans to vote for many categories, including Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, and Favorite Tour Style. A new category, Favorite K-pop Collab, has been added for this year’s **music awards 2026**. Voting is open now on iHeartRadio.com/awards, with the deadline on March 19. The ceremony promises live performances, surprise guests, and expected collaborations, aiming to highlight artists’ journeys and paths to success.
iHeartRadio Music Awards: A Look Back and Forward
John Sykes of iHeartMedia commented that the show celebrates fans and the songs and artists they love, while Tom Poleman mentioned previewing summer hits. The **iHeartRadio Music Awards** have a rich history, starting in 2014 with past ceremonies featuring major stars like Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. The awards cover diverse music genres, including Pop, Country, and Latin music, with **hip hop music** and **R&B music artists** being central to this year’s show. The nominations reflect current music trends and radio’s connection to culture. The **iHeartRadio Music Awards** are a key event providing a platform for artists, with this year’s nominees showcasing a wide range of talent. The **hip hop music** and R&B field is exceptionally strong, with Kendrick Lamar’s multiple nominations and Doechii’s recognition signifying her growing influence among these **top music awards**.
Anticipation for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards
The upcoming **music awards 2026** are highly anticipated, with fans awaiting the March 26th broadcast as a celebration of music’s best. This news signals a vibrant year for music, with the hip hop and R&B scenes thriving, and the **iHeartRadio Music Awards** reflecting this energy. This music event promises excitement as viewers tune in to see who takes home awards, with results revealed live. This is a must-watch for music fans. The nominations have generated buzz, highlighting the power of music and recognizing artistic achievement alongside commercial success. The 2026 event is set to be memorable, showcasing the year’s top **music news**. The nominations offer a preview of winners, with the celebration of **hip hop music** clear as the awards air at 8 PM ET on FOX and stream live on the iHeartRadio app. This is a major **music news** event where the competition will be fierce, and many artists have a strong chance. The music industry watches closely as this awards show celebrates the culture, marking a significant moment for music. The nominations are a strong indicator of who dominated the past year. The **iHeartRadio Music Awards** are a major platform, and the news impacts fan interest and drives conversations about music. The **hip hop music** and R&B categories are key, highlighting genre evolution. The awards are a testament to artist success, and the 2026 show is eagerly awaited, promising star power and excitement as the music world tunes in. This is important **music news**, with the hip hop scene well-represented and honored by the awards. The **iHeartRadio Music Awards** are a key event that brings music fans together. The nominations are announced, and the awards ceremony is next, making it a significant music moment.
