The 2026 awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26
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NEED TO KNOW
- Alex Warren received the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards
- “This is awesome,” the musician said in his acceptance speech
- The 2026 iHeartRadio Awards was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26
Alex Warren has been crowned this year’s Breakthrough Artist at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The singer-songwriter, 25, was honored at this year’s ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26.
"This is awesome," Warren, who performed his hit “FEVER DREAM” prior to accepting his award, began his speech.
Check out all of PEOPLE's iHeartRadio Music Awards coverage here.
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"I really hope I don't cuss," the "Ordinary" singer joked. "To think I was in the crowd right over there about three years ago as a band watching this and now performing and standing on the stage is a strange feeling."
Warren then joked that he was "not a popular kid growing up" and would "probably have been voted most likely to not be a Breakthrough Artist by the entire school and probably some of the faculty members."
"It wasn't cool to try," Warren continued, recalling that his classmates had "elaborate nicknames" for him and kicked him out of house parties, and that he once played his own singing videos on the school projector to "get all the students to laugh."
"The reason I'm telling you this is I hope that if there's anyone at home watching this right now that feels like they're not good enough or that no one believes in them, I do," Warren continued. "Truly, I do. You're going to be something amazing."
He went on to thank iHeart Radio program directors for expanding the reach of his music, and his wife, Kouvr Annon.
"Thanks to my amazing wife who I still would be homeless if it wasn't for you," Warren said, before thanking his team and his record label, Atlantic Records.
"Thank you for making this music bigger than me and allowing it to be yours," Warren concluded his speech. "And lastly to God and my parents. Truly, I hope, I know you're watching down. Can I sing a lyric loud enough for you to hear it, and I love you so, so much and thank you so much. You are the reason I am the man I have become who I am. This is for you."
“Alex has built a deeply loyal fanbase, and his influence continues to grow as he uses his platform to foster community, connection and emotional openness among fans,” per the iHeartRadio site. “This award recognizes Alex’s extraordinary trajectory, undeniable talent and the unique talent and the uniquely powerful bond he’s created with listeners around the world.”
Warren’s win comes after Gracie Abrams received the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
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He was nominated for eight iHeartRadio Music Awards, tying with Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter for the second-most nominations at this year’s awards show.
Warren was considered for Pop Artist of the Year and Pop Best New Artist, as well as the socially voted categories Favorite Debut Album for You’ll Be Alright, Kid. His hit song “Ordinary” was nominated for Song of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, along with the socially voted categories Best Lyrics and Best Music Video. Warren’s collaboration with Rosé “On My Mind” was also nominated for the socially voted category Favorite K-Pop Collab.
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Warren had a successful year that included the release of his debut album You’ll Be Alright, Kid in the summer of 2025.
Check out all of PEOPLE's iHeartRadio Music Awards coverage here.
"With the album, I wanted someone to listen to all 21 songs and be like, 'Okay, I think I know who you are,'" Warren told PEOPLE. “This album for me was me discovering who I was. But also on top of it, it was me coming to terms with the things that I've gone through.”
The album features Warren’s hit breakout song “Ordinary,” “Bloodline” with Jelly Roll and “On My Mind,” which have all charted on Billboard’s Hot 100, along with “Burning Down” and “Eternity.”
The singer rapidly rose to fame with “Ordinary,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks and reached No. 1 in over 20 countries. The track, largely inspired by his wife Kouvr Annon, earned him a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys. Warren also won Best New Artist at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Other stars being honored at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards include host Ludacris (Landmark Award), Miley Cyrus (Innovator Award) and John Mellencamp (Icon Award).
The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards will air live on FOX from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26.
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