The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations have been announced, with Madonna leading this year’s field with a career-best 11 nods.
The Queen of Pop is up for Video of the Year for ‘Confessions II – The Film’, as well as Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for ‘Bring Your Love’, among a host of other nominations.
Taylor Swift follows closely behind with nine nominations, with her ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ video recognised in categories including Video of the Year, Best Pop and Best Cinematography. Swift is also in the running for Artist of the Year.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each scored seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five apiece. Lisa picked up four nominations, with Shakira and Tate McRae each earning three.
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
For Madonna, this year’s nominations mark a particularly significant milestone. The singer last led the VMA nominations in 1998, when she received nine nods and won Video of the Year for ‘Ray of Light’. She previously topped the nominations in 1990, when she was nominated for the night’s top prize with ‘Vogue’, also earning nine nominations.
Madonna famously made history at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, delivering her now-iconic performance of ‘Like a Virgin’. More than four decades later, her 11 nominations in 2026 represent the biggest VMA haul of her career.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming available on Paramount+.
Check out the full list of nominees below:
Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
GENER8ION – STORM (starring Yung Lean)
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – Tears
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
BTS – Swim
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana x Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part
Best Pop
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Charli xcx – SS26
LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – Dream
Olivia Rodrigo – drop dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe
Don Toliver – E85
Drake – Janice STFU
Megan Thee Stallion – LOVER GIRL
Travis Scott – DUMBO
Tyler, The Creator – SUGAR ON MY TONGUE
Best R&B
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – YUKON
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
Best Alternative
Geese – Taxes
mgk & Fred Durst – FIX UR FACE
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
Olivia Rodrigo – the cure
SOMBR – Homewrecker
Tame Impala – Dracula
twenty one pilots – Drag Path
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Slayyyter – DANCE…
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka
Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL
Fuerza Regida – TU SANCHO
KAROL G – Papasito
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – LA VILLA
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Best K-Pop
BLACKPINK – JUMP
BTS – SWIM
CORTIS – REDRED
KATSEYE – PINKY UP
LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS – SPAGHETTI
LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – Dream
Best Country
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo
Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tucker Wetmore – Brunette
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
GENER8ION – STORM (starring Yung Lean)
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – Opalite
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – SS26
Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
SOMBR – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – PUNK ROCKY
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Editing
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Choreography
GENER8ION – STORM (starring Yung Lean)
Harry Styles – Dance No More
KATSEYE – PINKY UP
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
JISOO X ZAYN – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony.
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
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