iHeartRadio really likes to hand out awards. One might wonder how much it costs them to create all those trophies, given the numerous categories (see below, along with the winners). Still, at least most genres get a fair deal in what can be earned.
One of the more notable bits of the show was, of course, that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were at the ceremony. This marks the first time the soon-to-be married couple made an appearance at an awards show. Swift didn't perform, but she didn't need to to get noticed.
The best moment on stage might have come when Teddi Mellencamp gave the Icon award to her father. Not because John Mellencamp did anything special in the moment, but because of what came before. Teddi had been diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma, and her father helped her through the cancer battle.
2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards: Winners, and best and worst moments
"He wasn't going to let that lyric (from Mellencamp's song, "Longest Days) define my life," she said. "He stepped up, took control, fought for me, and pretty much changed my life. Saved my life."
In a completely different moment, while accepting an award, Kehlani was startled when host Ludacris belted "Luda!" from the side of the stage. He had warned the potential winners at the beginning that if their speeches started to go too long, he would do that, but Kehlani's genuine reaction wasn't a fun one.
The way the iHeartRadio Music Awards ended was not good either. Instead of a proper goodbye, the telecast cut off after Nikki Glaser and Ludacris announced Alex Warren had won for Song of the Year. What he said in his speech is anyone's guess.
iHeartRadio Music Awards winners for 2026:
- Song of the Year - Alex Warren, "Ordinary"
- Artist of the Year - Taylor Swft
- Album of the Year - Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
- Pop Artist of the Year - Sabrina Carpenter
- Pop Song of the Year - Taylor Swift, "The Fate of Ophelia"
- Pop Album of the Year - Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
- Duo/Group of the Year - HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
- Best Collaboration - ROSE & Brunco Mars, "APT."
- Country Song of the Year - Shaboozey, "Good News"
- Country Artist of the Year - Morgan Wallen
- Best New Country Artist - Ella Langley
- Country Album of the Year - Morgan Wallen, I'm the Problem
- Hip-hop Song of the Year - Kendrick Lamar and SZA, "luther"
- Hip-hop Artist of the Year - Kendrick Lamar
- Hip-hop Album of the Year - Kendrick Lamar, GNX
- Best New Hip-hop Artist - Real Boston Richey
- R&B Song of the Year - Kehlani, "Folded"
- R&B Artist of the Year - Chris Brown
- R&B Album of the Year - Leon Thomas, PHOLKS
- Best New R&B Artist - Leon Thomas
- World Artist of the Year - MOLIY
- Alternative Song of the Year - Sublime, "Ensenada"
- Alternative Artist of the Year - Twenty One Pilots
- Alternative Album of the Year - sombr, I Barely Know Her
- Best New Alternative Artist - sombr
- Rock Song of the Year - Linkin Park, "Heavy is the Crown"
- Rock Artist of the Year - Shinedown
- Best Rock Album of the Year - Sleep Token, Even in Arcadia
- Best New Rock Artist - Sleep Theory
- Dance Song of the Year - Disco Lines & Tinashe, "No Broke Boys"
- Dance Artist of the Year - David Guetta
- Dance Album of the Year - Lady Gaga, Mayhem
- Latin pop/Urban Song of the Year - Bad Bunny, "DtMF"
- Latin pop/Urban Artist of the Year - Bad Bunny
- Latin pop/Urban Album of the Year - Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
- Best New Latin pop/Urban Artist - Beéle
- Regional Mexican Song of the Year - Luis Angel "El Flaco," "Amor Bonito"
- Regional Mexican Artist of the Year - Grupo Frontera
- Regional Mexican Album of the Year - Fuera Regida, 111XPANTIA
- Best New Regional Mexican Artist - Los Dos de Tamaulipas
- K-pop Artist of the Year - ROSE
- K-pop Group of the Year - Stray Kids
- K-pop Song of the Year - HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, "Golden"
- K-pop Album of the Year - Jennie, Ruby
- Best New K-pop Artist - Cortis
- Songwriter of the Year - Amy Allen
- Producer of the Year - Andrew Watt
- Favorite Broadway Debut - Tom Felton, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
- Favorite TikTok Dance - j-hope, "MONA LISA"
- Favorite Debut Album - Alex Warren, You'll Be Alright, Kid
- Best Lyrics - Taylor Swift, "The Fate of Ophelia"
- Best Music Video - Taylor Swift, "The Fate of Ophelia"
- Favorite On Screen - Jimin and Jungkook, "Are You Sure?!"
- Favorite Tour Photographer - Rahul Bhatt for KATSEYE
- Favorite Soundtrack - KPop Demon Hunters
- Favorite Tour Style - Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift the Eras Tour
- Favorite Tour Tradition - Coldplay, Crowd cam
- Favorite K-pop Collaboration - j-hope and Miguel, "Sweet Dreams"