The Best, Worst and Most Oops Moments of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Taylor Swift! Alex Warren! Miley Cyrus! See the highlights and lowlights of the March 26 ceremony

As with every awards show, there are memorable highs — inspiring, tear-jerking acceptance speeches and thrilling performances — but also a few misses and mistakes. Among the highlights of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Taylor Swift, who took home seven trophies, made her awards show debut with her fiancé Travis Kelce, with whom she danced and kissed all night.

Meanwhile, Alex Warren won Breakthrough Artist of the Year after a dynamic performance of his new single "FEVER DREAM," but at the end of the show, he was unable to give his acceptance speech for Song of the Year on air due to time constraints.

Ahead, see the best, the worst and the blunders of this year's broadcast.

01 of 10

Most Major Awards Show Debut: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

It's the Love of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift attended the ceremony with husband-to-be Travis Kelce, marking their first joint awards show appearance. The engaged couple stuck close to each other throughout the night, hanging out with seat buddy Sombr (a previous recipient of Swift's sourdough!) and looking all lovey-dovey.

While accepting Pop Album of the Year, she gave her fiancé in the crowd a shout-out: "Thanks for the vibes."

02 of 10

Best Redemption: Alex Warren

After a less-than-ideal Grammys performance (to no fault of his own), Alex Warren delivered an extraordinary performance of his new song "FEVER DREAM." He bounded across the elaborate subway set, surrounded by dancers. His in-ears worked perfectly this time around, and he carried the high into his Breakthrough Artist of the Year acceptance speech.

03 of 10

For the Disney Kids: Miley Cyrus Accepts the Innovator Award

The entire week, Miley Cyrus has kept the nostalgia rolling — starting with the Hannah Montana anniversary special in honor of 20 years and continuing into the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

"[Hannah Montana] inspired me so much in my own career," the singer said while accepting the Innovator Award. "I fell in love with the idea that you can create a persona that gives you the confidence and the courage to perform authentically and that sometimes the fake you can actually reveal the real you."

Closing out her speech, she cheekily referenced a song from the Disney Channel series: "This really is the life."

04 of 10

Best Dad Award: John Mellencamp

Presenting her father John Mellencamp with the Icon Award, Teddi Mellencamp gave the most emotional speech of the night. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, who was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, quoted her dad's song "Longest Days": "Nothing lasts forever/Your best efforts don't always pay/Sometimes you get sick and you don't get better/That's when life is short, even in its longest days."

"He wasn't going to let that lyric define my life," she said. "He stepped up, took control, fought for me and pretty much changed my life. Saved my life."

On stage, he gave the trophy to his daughter, but we think he deserves another award for Best Dad.

05 of 10

Oldies but Goodies: TLC, En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa and Mellencamp

The trend of co-headlining tours has blessed us with dream combinations of artists. Most recently, women-led hip-hop groups and '90s icons TLC, En Vogue and Salt-N-Pepa announced their first joint tour, and at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, fans got a preview of what to expect. The three groups performed timeless songs like "Waterfalls," "Push It" and "Don't Let Go," which are impossible not to sing along to.

06 of 10

Worst: The Looming Threat of "Luda!"

Ludacris gave a friendly warning to the winners of the night during his opening monologue: They should keep their acceptances short, or else "Luda!" will boom through the speakers to cut them off. Amid persistent applause, Cyrus insisted to the Powers That Be she hadn't begun her speech yet.

More than halfway through the show without a "Luda!" it seemed like the host had bluffed. At the end of Kehlani's speech for R&B Song of the Year, though, the sound startled the singer, and they rushed off the stage. Turns out Ludacris is a man of his word.

07 of 10

Oops, Didn't Expect That to Come Out!: Sombr Cursing Onstage

Alternative Album of the Year winner Sombr, while thanking his fans, let out a few choice words that even he looked surprised to say. "I love you so much," he said, addressing his supporters. Then, censored, he emphasized: "I love you so f—— [much]."

08 of 10

Worst: The Teleprompter's Getting Fired

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel arrived on stage to present his "brother for life" Ludacris with the Landmark Award, but he couldn't find the teleprompter! When he did, Diesel leaned in for a closer look at the words, joking that he was "crushing it." Somebody increase the font size for the man!

09 of 10

Best of the Night: Raye's Performance of "Where Is My Husband?"

Pitch-perfect vocals, a dancing crowd and a magnetic stage presence — what more could you ask for from a performance? Raye's voice floated through her hit song "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?" and the audience fell into rhythm (especially Swift, who pointedly turned to her fiancé Kelce and sang along).

10 of 10

Oops: Alex Warren Cut for Time

As the credits rolled, Nikki Glaser and Ludacris announced to a shocked Warren that he won Song of the Year for "Ordinary." On his way up to the stage, the broadcast ended abruptly, wrapping with less of a bang and more like a hitched breath.