Taylor Swift to Appear at 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards
ENTERTAINMENT
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards Air Thursday, March 26, on FOX Live From Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Taylor Swift will make a special appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 26, marking her first award show appearance this year. Swift leads all artists with nine nominations at this year's event.
iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment announced the appearance alongside news that John Mellencamp will receive the 2026 iHeartRadio Icon Award and perform at the ceremony. Kehlani has also joined the lineup of performers.
The show will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on FOX. The broadcast will also be heard on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
Performance Lineup and Special Guests
Ludacris will host the 13th annual event. Previously announced performers include Alex Warren, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, RAYE, and performing for the first time together, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue.
The show will feature special appearances by Alysa Liu, Ne-Yo, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, sombr, Weezer, and additional guests.
Honoring John Mellencamp
This year's iHeartRadio Icon Award recipient is John Mellencamp. For more than five decades, his songwriting has captured the hearts of millions of fans. From defining an era with songs like "Jack & Diane," "Pink Houses," and "Small Town" to continuing to influence generations of musicians with his unmistakable voice and point of view, Mellencamp's work is woven deeply into the cultural fabric of the United States.
This summer, Mellencamp will embark on his highly anticipated Dancing Words Tour, The Greatest Hits, performing the songs that have defined his career, many of which he hasn't played live in decades.
Equally important to Mellencamp's artistry is his longstanding dedication to activism and advocacy. Throughout his career, he has championed causes close to America's heartland, including co-founding Farm Aid to support family farmers, a commitment that has spanned nearly 40 years. His voice has always stood for compassion, community, and integrity, reflecting the values the Icon Award seeks to honor.
Additional Award Recipients
Ludacris will receive the 2026 iHeartRadio Landmark Award in addition to hosting the event. Miley Cyrus will be honored with the 2026 iHeartRadio Innovator Award, and Alex Warren will receive the 2026 iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.
Celebrating Music's Biggest Hits
The annual event celebrates the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2026. The show will feature award presentations in multiple categories, live performances from the biggest artists in music, surprise guests and collaborations, and will showcase the stories of the winning artists' road to number one.
Top Nominees
Artists receiving multiple nominations include Alex Warren, Bad Bunny, Benson Boone, BLACKPINK, Chris Brown, Ed Sheeran, Ella Langley, GloRilla, Grupo Frontera, HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, Jelly Roll, JENNIE, j-hope, KATSEYE, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Linkin Park, LISA, Mariah the Scientist, MOLIY, Morgan Wallen, Myles Smith, RAYE, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter, Shinedown, sombr, SZA, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift, Twenty One Pilots, and Zara Larsson.
The diverse nominee list reflects the breadth of genres and global reach represented across iHeartRadio's platforms, from country and hip-hop to K-pop and rock.
Production and Partnerships
Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannaé Rouzan-Clay for Jesse Collins Entertainment; John Sykes, Tom Poleman, and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia; and FOX Entertainment Studios.
Proud partners of this year's event on iHeart's platforms include H&R Block, She Rises Studios, and Trashie, with more to be announced.
Platform Reach
iHeartMedia is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio every month. The company's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the United States than any other media outlet and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital-only audio service.
iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to both Podtrac and Triton, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined. The company has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming, and podcasts.
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards continues the event's tradition of bringing together the biggest names in music for a celebration of the year's most successful artists and songs. With Taylor Swift's appearance as the most-nominated artist, combined with performances from established legends and emerging stars, the show promises multiple memorable moments across genres and generations.
A full list of categories is available at iHeartRadio.com/awards. Artists and events are subject to change or cancellation without notice.