Taylor Swift leads with 6 nods, Ariana and Sabrina right behind, and BTS face BLACKPINK: the 2026 Kids' Choice Awards nominations are out

Nickelodeon announced the 2026 Kids' Choice Awards nominations on Thursday (Oct. 8), and Taylor Swift is the most-nominated artist with six. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter follow with five each. The ceremony takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, at Television City in Los Angeles, hosted by singer Alex Warren, and will air simultaneously on Nickelodeon and CBS for the first time, with streaming on Paramount+. There are 36 categories, three of them new, and fan voting is already open on the official site.

In Favorite Female Artist, Swift is up against Ariana, Sabrina, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Karol G, Miley Cyrus and BLACKPINK's ROSÉ. On the male side, the nominees are Bruno Mars, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Benson Boone, Lil Uzi Vert and Tyler, The Creator. K-pop shows up in force: BTS and BLACKPINK face off in Favorite Music Group or Duo, BTS's 'SWIM' is up for Favorite Song, 'ARIRANG' is nominated for Favorite Album, KATSEYE appears in Female Breakout, and Tame Impala's 'Dracula' with JENNIE competes for Favorite Collaboration.

Swift also has a curious matchup: 'The Life of a Showgirl,' her duet with Sabrina Carpenter, is nominated for Favorite Collaboration, while the album of the same name competes for Favorite Album against Sabrina's own 'Man's Best Friend,' Drake's 'ICEMAN' and Olivia Rodrigo's record. In Favorite Global Music Star, Karol G represents Latin America, and 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' is up for Song from a Movie. Favorite Viral Song includes Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' and Olivia Dean's 'Man I Need.'