Nigerian music star Ayra Starr has been nominated for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, marking another major international recognition for the singer.
Prompt News reports organisers of the award ceremony released the official nominees list on Thursday, with Ayra Starr securing a spot in the highly competitive World Artiste of the Year category.
She will battle for the prize against South Africa’s Tyla, Hong Kong-born global star Jackson Wang, Japanese group JO1, and Ghanaian-American singer MOLIY.
The 13th edition of the iHeartRadio Music Awards is scheduled to hold on March 26 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Below is the complete list of nominees across categories:
Song of the Year
• ‘Anxiety’ – Doechii
• ‘Good News’ – Shaboozey
• ‘Love Somebody’ – Morgan Wallen
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
• ‘Manchild’ – Sabrina Carpenter
• ‘Mutt’ – Leon Thomas
• ‘Ordinary’ – Alex Warren
• ‘Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else’ – Benson Boone
• ‘Stargazing’ – Myles Smith
• ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’ – Taylor Swift
Artist of the Year
• Bad Bunny
• Benson Boone
• Chris Brown
• Jelly Roll
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lady Gaga
• Morgan Wallen
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Tate McRae
• Taylor Swift
Pop Artist of the Year
• Alex Warren
• Benson Boone
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Tate McRae
• Taylor Swift
Pop Song of the Year
• ‘Golden’ – HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami
• ‘Manchild’ – Sabrina Carpenter
• ‘Ordinary’ – Alex Warren
• ‘Pink Pony Club’ – Chappell Roan
• ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’ – Taylor Swift
Best New Artist (Pop)
• Alex Warren
• Jessie Murph
• Myles Smith
• Ravyn Lenae
• Sombr
Duo/Group of the Year
• HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami
• Linkin Park
• Maroon 5
• Shinedown
• Twenty One Pilots
Best Collaboration
• ‘All The Way’ – BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman
• ‘APT.’ – Rosé & Bruno Mars
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
• ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
• ‘WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME’ – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Country Song of the Year
• ‘After All The Bars Are Closed’ – Thomas Rhett
• ‘Good News’ – Shaboozey
• ‘Liar’ – Jelly Roll
• ‘Love Somebody’ – Morgan Wallen
• ‘Whiskey Drink’ – Jason Aldean
Country Artist of the Year
• Jason Aldean
• Jelly Roll
• Lainey Wilson
• Luke Combs
• Morgan Wallen
Best New Artist (Country)
• Chase Matthew
• Ella Langley
• Hudson Westbrook
• Josh Ross
• Zach Top
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
• ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
• ‘NOKIA’ – Drake
• ‘Outside’ – Cardi B
• ‘The Largest’ – BigXthaPlug
• ‘WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME’ – GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
• Cardi B
• GloRilla
• Kendrick Lamar
• Playboi Carti
• Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)
• MOLIY
• PLUTO
• Real Boston Richey
• YKNIECE
• Zeddy Will
R&B Song of the Year
• ‘Burning Blue’ – Mariah The Scientist
• ‘Folded’ – Kehlani
• ‘Mutt’ – Leon Thomas
• ‘Residuals’ – Chris Brown
• ‘Somebody Loves Me’ – PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
R&B Artist of the Year
• Chris Brown
• Kehlani
• Leon Thomas
• Mariah The Scientist
• SZA
Best New Artist (R&B)
• Jenevieve
• Kwn
• Leon Thomas
• Mariah The Scientist
• Sailorr
World Artiste of the Year
• Ayra Starr
• Jackson Wang
• JO1
• MOLIY
• Tyla
Alternative Song of the Year
• ‘Back To Friends’ – Sombr
• ‘Ensenada’ – Sublime
• ‘One Eyed Bastard’ – Green Day
• ‘Stargazing’ – Myles Smith
• ‘The Contract’ – Twenty One Pilots
Alternative Artist of the Year
• Cage The Elephant
• Green Day
• Linkin Park
• Sublime
• Twenty One Pilots
Best New Artist (Alternative)
• Almost Monday
• Gigi Perez
• Lola Young
• Role Model
• Sombr
Rock Song of the Year
• ‘Afterlife’ – Evanescence
• ‘Bad Guy’ – Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya
• ‘Dance, Kid, Dance’ – Shinedown
• ‘Even If It Kills Me’ – Papa Roach
• ‘Heavy Is The Crown’ – Linkin Park
Rock Artist of the Year
• Linkin Park
• Papa Roach
• Shinedown
• Sleep Token
• Three Days Grace
Best New Artist (Rock)
• Architects
• Poppy
• Return To Dust
• Sleep Theory
• Spiritbox
Dance Song of the Year
• ‘Blessings’ – Calvin Harris feat. Clementine Douglas
• ‘In My Arms’ – ILLENIUM & Hayla
• ‘No Broke Boys’ – Disco Lines & Tinashe
• ‘Save My Love’ – Marshmello, Ellie Goulding and Avaion
• ‘Won’t Be Possible’ – Tiësto, Odd Mob & Goodboys
Dance Artist of the Year
• Calvin Harris
• David Guetta
• John Summit
• Martin Garrix
• Tiësto
Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year
• ‘Angel’ – Grupo Frontera & Romeo Santos
• ‘Degenere’ – Myke Towers & Benny Blanco
• ‘Dtmf’ – Bad Bunny
• ‘Qué Pasaría…’ – Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny
• ‘Soltera’ – Shakira
Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year
• Bad Bunny
• Feid
• J Balvin
• Karol G
• Shakira
Best New Artist (Latin Pop/Urban)
• Alleh
• Beéle
• De La Rose
• Dei V
• Louis Bpm
Regional Mexican Song of the Year
• ‘Amor Bonito’ – Luis Angel “El Flaco”
• ‘El Amor De Mi Vida’ – Calibre 50
• ‘Flores’ – Xavi
• ‘Hecha Pa’ Mi’ – Grupo Frontera
• ‘Lejos Estamos Mejor’ – Eden Muñoz
Regional Mexican Artiste of the Year
• Alejandro Fernández
• Carín León
• Fuerza Regida
• Grupo Frontera
• Luis Angel “El Flaco”
Best New Artiste (Regional Mexican)
• Clave Special
• Edgardo Nuñez
• Los Dos De Tamaulipas
• Óscar Maydon
• Oscar Ortiz
K-Pop Artiste of the Year
• Jennie
• J-Hope
• Jin
• Lisa
• Rosé
K-Pop Group of the Year
• Ateez
• Blackpink
• Enhypen
• Stray Kids
• Twice
K-Pop Song of the Year
• ‘APT.’ – Rosé & Bruno Mars
• ‘Golden’ – HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami
• ‘Jump’ – Blackpink
• ‘Killin’ It Girl’ – J-Hope feat. GloRilla
• ‘Like Jennie’ – Jennie
Best New Artiste (K-Pop)
• 82Major
• Allday Project
• Cortis
• Hearts2Hearts
• Meovv
Songwriter of the Year
• Amy Allen
• Ashley Gorley
• Cal Shapiro
• Charlie Handsome
• Julia Michaels
Producer of the Year
• Andrew Watt
• Dijon
• Jack Antonoff
• Max Martin & Shellback
• Sounwave
Favorite Broadway Debut (Socially Voted Category)
• Ashley Graham – Chicago
• Cheryl Porter – & Juliet
• Durrell “Tank” Babbs – Hell’s Kitchen
• Gabrielle Nevaeh Green – Stranger Things: The First Shadow
• Jack Wolfe – Hadestown
• Kelsie Watts – Six! The Musical
• Lencia Kebede – Wicked
• Lizzy McAlpine – Floyd Collins
• Meg Donnelly – Moulin Rouge! The Musical
• Ne-Yo – Hell’s Kitchen
• Tom Felton – Harry Potter And The Cursed Child
• Trisha Paytas – Beetlejuice
