The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards already have their top contenders. The ceremony, which will celebrate its thirteenth edition on March 26th from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will be dominated by Taylor Swift, who leads the list of nominees with a total of nine nominations. She is closely followed by Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren, each with eight nominations. The live broadcast on Fox promises to be a night honoring the most-streamed artists and songs on iHeartRadio platforms during 2025. Swift, who has won the Artist of the Year award in the last two editions, is seeking a historic three-peat in this category. However, the competition is fierce: she'll be sharing the spotlight with heavyweights like Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, and Sabrina Carpenter herself, among others. In the battle for Song of the Year, Swift is aiming for a third award—after winning with 'Shake It Off' (2015) and 'Anti-Hero' (2023)—with her track 'The Fate of Ophelia'. In this category, she'll face off against reigning champion Benson Boone ('Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else'), SZA and Kendrick Lamar with their collaboration "Luther," and other 2025 hits like Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" and Alex Warren's "Ordinary." This year's edition introduces three new categories that reflect current industry and fan trends: Favorite TikTok Dance, Favorite Debut Album, and Favorite K-Pop Collaboration. Additionally, in the More nominations will be announced in the coming weeks, including Album of the Year by genre and Record Label of the Year.

The two-hour show, which will also be available on all iHeartRadio stations and its app, will begin at 8 p.m. ET and promises not only to celebrate last year's hits but also to offer a glimpse into what music will be like in 2026. Details about the host, performing artists, and special award winners will be announced soon.