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Billboard Women in Music 2026: Polaroids From a Star-Studded Night at the Hollywood Palladium
Polaroids from Billboard Women in Music 2026: images and moments from the April 29 ceremony honoring HUNTR/X, Tate McRae, Teyana Taylor, Zara Larsson and more.
The 2026 Billboard Women in Music ceremony took over the Hollywood Palladium on April 29, honoring a wide swath of artists who dominated the year — from breakout stars to industry veterans. The evening felt less like an awards show and more like a who’s-who snapshot of contemporary pop, country, R&B and global stars, packed with superstar energy and unmistakable live moments.
Zara Larsson
Noah Reardon
Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music pulled together an eclectic list of honorees. This year’s Women of the Year were the singing voices behind the fictional K-pop band KPop Demon Hunters, HUNTR/X — EJAE, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI. Teyana Taylor took home the Visionary Award, Tate McRae was honored as Hitmaker, and Ella Langley received the Powerhouse Award while reigning atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Other notable awards included Kehlani’s Impact Award, Laufey’s Innovator Award, Mariah the Scientist as Rising Star, Zara Larsson’s Breakthrough Award and Thalia’s Icon Award. Host Keke Palmer anchored the night and joined a lineup of performers who turned the Palladium into a live showcase.
Performances skewed toward stripped-down moments and cinematic staging: Larsson literally flew through her set, belting “Midnight Sun” while lifted by dancers; Mariah the Scientist staged a rain-soaked rendition of “Rainy Days” before inviting Kali Uchis onstage for their duet “Is It a Crime”; Tate McRae went unplugged for an intimate run-through of “Nobody’s Girl.” Ella Langley and Laufey also pared things back, delivering acoustic takes on “Choosin’ Texas” and “Silver Lining,” respectively.
Polaroids from the night
Between speeches and performances, Billboard asked honorees, presenters and special guests to sign a series of instant Polaroids. Photographer Noah Reardon captured everyone from established stars to rising faces — a running visual diary of a night that celebrated breadth as much as achievement.
Victoria Monet
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Bella Poarch
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Rei Ami, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna (HUNTR/X)
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Tyla
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Thalia
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Tate McRae
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Ciara
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Coco Jones
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Slayyyter
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Ava Max
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Prelude
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Ella Mai
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Brandi Carlile
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Zara Larsson
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Eva Longoria
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Mariah The Scientist
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Laufey
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Keke Palmer
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Ella Langley
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Cara Delevingne
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
Victoria Justice
Image Credit: Noah Reardon
The Polaroids capture a simple throughline from the night: an industry united around a roster of women whose careers and sounds are moving the needle. Whether it was a high-flying pop moment, a rain-drenched R&B set or a quiet country number, the images lay out a very clear argument — 2026 belonged to many different kinds of women in music.
