The 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards lit up the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on April 29, celebrating the incredible achievements of women across the music industry.
Hosted by the multi-talented Keke Palmer — who also delivered a show-stopping opening performance — the event was a powerful tribute to visionaries, hitmakers, and trailblazers pushing boundaries in music.
Streamed live on Billboard.com and YouTube, the night blended high-energy performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches, and a red carpet packed with global stars, all under the theme of women uplifting women.
Red Carpet Glam: Who Showed Up and Slayed
The red carpet was a who’s-who of music’s brightest talents, with honorees and presenters arriving in style for photos and interviews.
Keke Palmer kicked things off in head-turning fashion, joined by honorees including Teyana Taylor, Zara Larsson, Teyana Taylor (Visionary Award recipient), Thalía, Kehlani, Laufey, Mariah the Scientist, Tate McRae, and Ella Langley.
Global stars made their mark too: Filipino girl group BINI (Global Force Award winners) posed in coordinated looks, while HUNTR/X voices EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI (Women of the Year) brought bold energy.
Other notable arrivals included Kim Petras, Lainey Wilson, Victoria Monét, Brandi Carlile, Dionne Warwick, Tyla, Cara Delevingne, Coco Jones, Ava Max, Melanie Martinez, Nessa Barrett, Bebe Rexha, and industry heavyweights like ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and songwriter Diane Warren.
Group shots of BINI and HUNTR/X stole the spotlight, capturing the event’s international flair. The vibe was celebratory and empowering, with attendees mingling ahead of the main show.
The Honorees: Celebrating Vision, Impact & Innovation
Billboard honored a diverse lineup of artists and executives for their groundbreaking contributions:
- Teyana Taylor – Visionary Award: For her Grammy-nominated album Escape Room, Golden Globe win, and Oscar nomination.
- Zara Larsson – Breakthrough Award: Recognized for her decade-plus career and fresh artistic evolution.
- EJAE, AUDREY NUNA & REI AMI (HUNTR/X voices from KPop Demon Hunters) – Women of the Year Award: For powering the smash hit “Golden,” which topped the Hot 100 for eight weeks.
- Thalía – Icon Award: Honoring her nearly four-decade career as a Latin music legend.
- Kehlani – Impact Award: Following her recent Grammy wins, for her chart success and advocacy.
- Laufey – Innovator Award: For her genre-blending jazz-pop and second Grammy win.
- Mariah the Scientist – Rising Star Award (presented by Honda): For her rising profile and authentic artistry.
- Tate McRae – Hitmaker Award: For landing her first Hot 100 No. 1 with “What I Want.”
- Ella Langley – Powerhouse Award: For her No. 1 hit “Choosin’ Texas” and chart-topping album.
- Elizabeth Matthews (ASCAP CEO) – Executive of the Year: Leading the performing rights organization and championing songwriters.
- BINI – Global Force Award (Billboard Philippines).
- The Beaches – Global Force Award (Billboard Canada).
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Standout Highlights & Performances
The night delivered 11 unforgettable moments, from show-opening energy to emotional tributes:
- Keke Palmer’s Opening Performance: She launched the show with “Text Message Unsent” from her upcoming film I Love Boosters, setting a fun, high-energy tone while keeping the crowd engaged during a brief technical hiccup.
- Zara Larsson’s Breakthrough Moment: Presented by Tyla, she performed “Midnight Sun” with intricate choreography and delivered a speech crediting the women around her for her artistic growth.
- Mariah the Scientist’s Rising Star Set: Joined by Kali Uchis for “Is It a Crime” after performing “Rainy Days,” she gave a moving thank-you to women navigating industry challenges.
- Tate McRae’s Acoustic Hitmaker Performance: She stripped back “Nobody’s Girl” and shared vulnerable insights into her songwriting process.
- Ella Langley’s Powerhouse Vibes: Lainey Wilson presented; Langley performed “Choosin’ Texas” and defined “powerhouse” as resilience.
- Laufey’s Innovator Spotlight: Brandi Carlile introduced her; Laufey performed “Silver Lining” and praised every woman in the room as an innovator.
- Kehlani’s Impact Award Speech: Ciara presented; Kehlani redefined impact as “staying human” in a tough industry.
- Thalía’s Icon Medley: Eva Longoria presented; Thalía delivered a fiery performance of “Piel Morena” and “Amor a la Mexicana” with mariachi flair.
- HUNTR/X’s Women of the Year Triumph: They performed “Golden” with animated visuals, sharing empowering messages about embracing their voices.
- Teyana Taylor’s Visionary Honor: Dionne Warwick introduced her; Taylor performed “Bed of Roses” (with Wale) and returned later for an inspiring speech about perseverance.
- Executive of the Year Celebration: Kim Petras presented to Elizabeth Matthews, who thanked songwriters and celebrated the room’s “estrogen-filled positivity.”
The evening emphasized sisterhood, with presenters like Brandi Carlile, Ciara, Victoria Monét, Lainey Wilson, and more adding star power and heartfelt introductions.
Why It Mattered
Billboard Women in Music 2026 wasn’t just an awards show — it was a global celebration of resilience, creativity, and community.
From rising stars to icons, the honorees proved that women are shaping music’s future across genres and borders.
As the night wrapped, the message was clear: in an industry that often demands perfection, these women are rewriting the rules on their own terms.
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