The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards are right around the corner, and many of the biggest names in rock are being recognized for their success over the past year.
On Thursday (January 8), iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment announced the nominees for the 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards, an event celebrating the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app in 2025.
Green Day earned nods in both the Alternative Artist and Song of the Year categories as did Papa Roach in the Rock genre, while groups like Linkin Park, Shinedown and Twenty One Pilots battle it out against Maroon 5 and HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters for the overall Duo/Group of the Year.
In addition to longtime favorites like Cage the Elephant, Sublime and Evanescence receiving their own nominations, newer and breakout artists have made their own mark on the genre over the past year and earned nods for their efforts in the Best New Artist categories, including Role Model, sombr, Lola Young, Gigi Perez, almost monday, Architects, Poppy, Return to Dust, Sleep Theory and Spiritbox.
Once again, fans will have the opportunity to choose the winners in several categories, both new and established, with fan voting determining the top choice in Favorite Debut Album, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite Tour Tradition and more. Social voting for all categories begins January 8 and continues through March 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT. To cast a vote, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards airs live on FOX from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26 at 8 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed). Listeners can also tune into the show as it is broadcast on iHeartRadio stations across the country as well as on the iHeartRadio app. Check out the full list of nominees.
Keep reading to see all of the rock and alternative nominees for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
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