The biggest night in radio music is officially here. The iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 red carpet live updates have been rolling in all evening as the music industry’s brightest stars made their way to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26, for the 13th annual ceremony. From stunning fashion moments to major award reveals, tonight delivered one unforgettable moment after another.
Here is a full breakdown of everything that went down at one of the most anticipated music events of the year.
Stay right here for everything happening tonight — winners, red carpet looks, performances, and all the moments fans are already talking about.
The Stage Is Set at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards aired live on FOX from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, running from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, with a tape-delayed broadcast for West Coast viewers at 8:00 p.m. PT. The show was also available to hear live on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and through the free iHeartRadio app, making it one of the most widely accessible music awards broadcasts of the year.
Rapper and actor Ludacris served as host for the evening — a fitting choice, given that he was also being honored with the iHeartRadio Landmark Award during the show. His energy kept the ceremony moving at a lively pace, and his comfort on stage made the transitions between major moments feel seamless throughout the night.
The 2026 edition of the show celebrated the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the app throughout 2025, while also spotlighting the new voices already making noise in 2026. The result was a ceremony that felt both nostalgic and fresh — honoring legends while putting a spotlight on the next generation.
Red Carpet Fashion: Who Wore What
The red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre was a full event in itself. Stars began arriving well before showtime, and the fashion choices ranged from classic Hollywood glamour to bold, head-turning statements.
TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue arrived together on the red carpet, stepping out side by side ahead of their joint appearance in the show. Their coordinated arrival generated an enormous reaction online and underscored the significance of having three legendary R&B and hip-hop groups in the same building on the same night. The reunion energy was palpable from the moment they stepped in front of the cameras.
Taylor Swift’s arrival was one of the most anticipated moments of the evening. Swift, who led all nominees with nine nominations this year, made a rare awards-show appearance, and fans who had been waiting months to see her on a red carpet were not disappointed. She looked every bit the superstar that her nomination haul suggests she remains.
Other notable arrivals included Lainey Wilson, who represented the country music world with her signature style, as well as Kehlani, Alex Warren, and a string of rising stars who had plenty to celebrate heading into the night.
Taylor Swift Dominates the Nomination Landscape
Taylor Swift entered the night as the most-nominated artist with nine total nods, including Pop Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her track “The Fate of Ophelia.” Her presence at the ceremony made the stakes feel even higher, and every category she appeared in became an instant talking point among fans both inside the venue and watching from home.
Close behind her in nomination count were Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and Alex Warren, each earning eight nominations. That grouping alone illustrated just how diverse the iHeartRadio audience has become — a pop icon, a Latin superstar, and a social media-turned-recording artist all competing at the same level.
The Artist of the Year category was among the most stacked in the show’s history, featuring Bad Bunny, Benson Boone, Chris Brown, Jelly Roll, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Taylor Swift. Regardless of who walked away with that particular trophy, the lineup itself told the story of just how wide-ranging popular music has become.
Major Award Winners of the Night
The awards started flowing early, and several categories produced results that fans will be discussing for weeks.
Alex Warren took home the iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award, one of the evening’s most meaningful honors for an emerging act. Warren, who was also nominated in multiple competitive categories including Song of the Year for “Ordinary,” has had a remarkable rise, and the recognition felt well-earned. He has spoken openly about attending past iHeartRadio ceremonies as a fan, which made his winner’s moment all the more meaningful.
Leon Thomas won Best New Artist in the R&B category, a result that reflects the critical and commercial momentum he has been building steadily. His track “MUTT” was one of the most talked-about R&B releases of the past year, and his win acknowledged that the music world has been paying close attention.
Twenty One Pilots claimed the Alternative Artist of the Year award, continuing their run as one of the most beloved acts in the alternative space. The duo has a dedicated fanbase that shows up year after year, and this win was another validation of their sustained impact.
Linkin Park won Rock Song of the Year for “Heavy Is the Crown,” a track that resonated deeply with rock fans and helped mark the band’s continued relevance in a genre that has seen significant shifts over the past decade.
In the K-pop category, Jimin and Jungkook took home the Favorite K-Pop Collab award for “Are You Sure?!” — a result that drew enormous enthusiasm from their fanbase and highlighted how significantly K-pop has embedded itself into the iHeartRadio audience.
Special Honors: Miley Cyrus, John Mellencamp, and Ludacris
Three of the evening’s most emotional moments came during the special honors presentations.
Miley Cyrus received the iHeartRadio Innovator Award, recognizing her journey from child star to globally respected artist and advocate. The honor arrived during a particularly significant year — 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana, and Cyrus has been celebrating that milestone with a special anniversary project. She has described the show as something that will always be a part of who she is, and the audience at the Dolby Theatre gave her a reception that matched that sentiment entirely.
John Mellencamp was presented with the iHeartRadio Icon Award, joining a short list of past honorees that includes some of the biggest names in the history of American music. Mellencamp also performed during the ceremony, giving the night one of its most powerful musical moments.
Ludacris, already doing double duty as host, accepted the iHeartRadio Landmark Award in recognition of his lasting impact on hip-hop and popular culture. His multi-platinum career, Grammy wins, and successful pivot into acting have made him one of the most versatile entertainers of his generation, and the crowd showed genuine appreciation for everything he has built over the years.
Performances That Brought the House Down
The performance lineup at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards was as varied as the award categories themselves.
TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue performed together, a moment that had been building anticipation since the three groups announced a co-headlining summer tour. Seeing all three acts share a stage was a genuine highlight of the night — a celebration of the women who helped define R&B and hip-hop during one of the genre’s most culturally impactful eras.
Alex Warren performed live, giving audiences a taste of the music that earned him so many nominations this year. Lainey Wilson brought her brand of country energy to the Dolby Theatre stage. RAYE delivered a performance that reminded everyone why she has been one of the most exciting voices in music over the past two years. Kehlani also performed, adding a smooth R&B presence to a night that moved across genres with ease.
John Mellencamp’s performance was the kind of moment that reminded the room why Icon Award recipients earn that distinction — it was a master class in what it means to have decades of great music to pull from.
A Night That Belongs to the Fans
What has always set the iHeartRadio Music Awards apart from other ceremonies is its direct connection to radio listeners across the country. These awards are driven by the people who actually tune in — the fans who request songs, stream albums, and fill arenas. That foundation gives the show a different energy than peer-voted or critic-driven awards, and it was on full display Thursday night in Los Angeles.
From the red carpet arrivals to the final trophy of the evening, the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards served as a genuine reflection of what American music fans have been loving, arguing about, and singing along to for the past year. In that sense, it was exactly what it was always meant to be.
Who was your favorite red carpet look of the night, and did your pick take home the win? Drop your thoughts in the comments — we want to hear from you.