Miley Cyrus and Ludacris will receive major honors at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, organizers announced Thursday, as the annual show prepares for its March 26 broadcast from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Cyrus will be presented with the iHeartRadio Innovator Award, while Ludacris will receive the Landmark Award and serve as host of the ceremony.
The 13th annual edition of the show airs live on FOX Broadcasting Company from 8 p.m. ET, celebrating the most-played artists and songs across iHeartMedia radio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025. Performances are scheduled from Alex Warren, Lainey Wilson, RAYE and Ludacris, alongside a first-time joint performance from TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue.
Cyrus’ selection reflects a two-decade career that has repeatedly shifted pop’s boundaries. Her rise began in 2006 through Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. In 2013, she reshaped her career with the album Bangerz. The project produced the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Wrecking Ball.” Later releases moved across genres, from the country-leaning Younger Now to the glam-rock influences of Plastic Hearts.
Commercial momentum surged again in 2023. The single “Flowers” became one of her biggest hits, earning Cyrus her first Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. That success continued last year with the visual album Something Beautiful.
The Innovator Award celebrates her career and places her among previous recipients such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga.
Ludacris’ recognition highlights a different type of legacy. The rapper emerged as one of the defining hip-hop voices of the early 2000s after his major-label debut Back for the First Time in 2000. Follow-up albums Word of Mouf, Chicken-n-Beer and The Red Light District generated multiple platinum certifications and radio staples including “Stand Up” and “Get Back.”
“I’m excited to return as host of the iHeartRadio Music Awards to celebrate and perform alongside some of the best in the industry,” Ludacris said in a statement announcing the show. “It’s going to be a night with special performances and surprise moments fans are going to love.”
Another milestone will arrive during the broadcast when Alex Warren receives the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. The singer recently dominated radio charts last year with his breakout single “Ordinary.”
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