KATSEYE, CORTIS Score Big Nods at iHeartRadio Awards

• KATSEYE leads K-pop nominations with four nods for their songs, tour, and dance break.
• CORTIS earns first U.S. recognition with two nominations, including Best New Artist and TikTok Dance for GO!.
• K-pop’s influence grows in the U.S., with multiple acts nominated across major categories.

K-pop's worldwide momentum grew this week with many acts receiving nominations for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, demonstrating the genre's growing presence on US music industry stages. Two HYBE-backed groups, girl group KATSEYE and boy band CORTIS, were featured among the K-pop nominees. KATSEYE received four nods in major fan-voted and official categories, while CORTIS received two, marking its first U.S. award nominations.

The annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will take place on March 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The award presentation, which will be televised on FOX in the U.S., will celebrate music by recognizing artists who dominated iHeartRadio airplay and digital interaction throughout the previous year, combining traditional measures with fan-voted categories.

KATSEYE Leads with Four Nods

As per the official iHeartRadio awards listings, KATSEYE's 2025 songs and touring output have received nominations in four categories, namely, Favorite TikTok Dance for Gnarly, Best Music Video for Gabriela, Favorite Tour Style for their Beautiful Chaos tour, and Favorite Tour Tradition for the signature Gnarly dance break. Established on HYBE's reality show Dream Academy, the transnational six-member girl group debuted in 2024 and has since gained global streaming and social traction with these nominated songs.

CORTIS Bags its First U.S. Award Nod Since Debut

CORTIS, a five-member boy group affiliated with HYBE's BigHit Music, received two nominations at the same awards. The group was nominated for Best New Artist (K-pop) and had their debut song GO! got selected for Favorite TikTok Dance among global pop icons. 

Notably, GO! has gained global traction via short-form video challenges and streaming milestones, indicating a sizable international fan base. As noted by The Korea Herald, the song has received over 210,000 TikTok views for its dance challenge and has also garnered 100 million Spotify streams as of last week. The song came out in September last year, ahead of Cortis' EP Color Outside the Lines, which entered Billboard 200 at No. 15, marking the highest debut album position by a K-pop group.

Broader K-pop Representation at iHeartRadio Awards 

Apart from KATSEYE and CORTIS, BTS members Jin and J-Hope, and BLACKPINK members Lisa and Rosé have been nominated for K-pop Artist of the Year. As for K-pop Group of the Year, the contenders include ATEEZ, BLACKPINK, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, and TWICE.

As for the K-pop Song of the Year category, nominations showcase the year's greatest releases, with stalwarts including BLACKPINK (JUMP), Rosé (APT), Jennie (like JENNIE), and J-Hope (Killing it Girl). Several artists featured multiple times through different categories, showcasing both solo projects and partnerships, while fresh hits such as KPop Demon Hunters also make an impression. 

The Best New Artist (K-pop) category highlights emerging talent, with acts such as 82Major, AllDay Project, and Hearts2Hearts representing the next generation prepared to shape the scene.

The nominees for Favorite K-pop Collab, a socially voted category, feature a range of high-profile collaborations. Notably, BUCK by Jackson Wang featuring Diljit Dosanjh is also included amongst all other nominees. Other nominations include Blink by Corbyn Besson & Tzuyu of TWICE, BORN AGAIN by Lisa featuring Doja Cat & RAYE, Dirty Work by aespa featuring Flo Milli, and ExtraL by Jennie & Doechii. 

In the meantime, the Favorite K-pop Collab category highlights the genre's global appeal, with socially chosen favorites like Jackson Wang's BUCK with Diljit Dosanjh, Lisa's BORN AGAIN starring Doja Cat and RAYE, Sweet Dreams by J-Hope and Miguel, and Jennie's ExtraL with Doechii, among others. Together, these projects reflect K-pop’s continuous expansion of creative and international horizons.

K-pop’s Expanding U.S. Footprint

K-pop's success in the United States music awards shows no signs of diminishing. At the 2026 Grammys, BLACKPINK's Rosé won Record of the Year alongside Bruno Mars for APT., while KATSEYE became the first HYBE-led female group to be nominated for Best New Artist. The overwhelming number of nominees points out the genre's global reach, which is fueled by streaming numbers, fan mobilization, and radio airplay. The results of socially voted categories, which are open until March 19, will further highlight how digital participation impacts recognition in US music events.