Madonna leads this year’s MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift lands nine and sits one win away from becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.
Madonna looks set to dominate the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, landing 11 nominations.
MTV unveiled the full list on Tuesday (18.08.26), and the pop icon proved she’s still a heavyweight alongside today’s biggest stars, having already collected 19 competitive VMAs and becoming the first solo woman to receive the Video Vanguard Award back in 1986.
Her duet with Sabrina Carpenter, Bring Your Love, is up for Song of the Year, while Confessions II – The Film competes for Video of the Year. Madonna also appears in the Artist of the Year lineup.
Taylor Swift sits just behind her with nine nominations, giving her a clear shot at becoming the most decorated artist in VMA history. One win would break the record. Her haul includes Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia, Artist of the Year and Best Pop.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter follow with seven nominations each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson earned five each. BLACKPINK star LISA collected four, and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean all scored three.
The Artist of the Year category features Madonna, Taylor, Ariana, Bruno, Sabrina and Morgan Wallen. Meanwhile, the Video of the Year race brings together Taylor’s The Fate of Ophelia, Madonna’s Confessions II – The Film, Ariana’s hate that i made you love me, Bruno’s I Just Might, Sabrina’s Tears, and GENER8ION’s STORM starring Yung Lean.
This year’s VMAs also welcome a wave of newcomers. GENER8ION and Yung Lean lead the debut pack with three nods for STORM, while K‑pop group CORTIS and viral breakout Stella Lefty – who rose to fame with Boston – picked up two each. Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro also make their VMA debuts.
The Best Dance category returns for the first time since 2019, featuring Tate’s Nobody’s Girl, Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ New Religion, Harry’s Aperture, Lady Gaga and Doechii’s RUNAWAY, Madonna’s Confessions II – The Film, PinkPantheress’ Stateside featuring Zara, and Slayyyter’s DANCE….
The 2026 MTV VMAs will broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, airing at 7.30pm ET / 4.30pm PT. The show will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the US.
2026 MTV VMA nominations:
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 – Stateside + Zara Larsson
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, Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
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 – Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
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’n’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 – RUNAWAY
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
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 – SPAGHETTI
LISA – Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
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 – RUNAWAY
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
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 – Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
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 – Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
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, ZAYN – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony.
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Madonna storms the 2026 MTV VMAs with 11 nominations as Taylor Swift closes in on all‑time record
