VMA nominations 2026 have officially arrived, and Madonna is leading the field with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson collected five apiece.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will bring together some of the biggest names in pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, Latin music, K-pop and alternative music.
Madonna’s strong showing puts her in position to make another major mark in VMA history. Swift also enters the night with an opportunity to claim the record for the most VMA wins by an artist.
The nominations were announced August 18, giving fans a clear look at the artists, songs and videos competing for this year’s Moon Person trophies.
Madonna Takes the Lead With 11 Nominations
Madonna is the leading nominee for the 2026 ceremony with 11 nominations.
Her recognition stretches across major awards and technical categories. She is nominated for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Her other nominations cover collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
Her nominated project, “Confessions II – The Film,” gives her a particularly broad presence throughout the ballot.
Madonna’s 2026 showing also carries historic significance because she remains one of the most decorated artists in VMA history. She has won 19 competitive VMAs, along with the Video Vanguard Award.
A sweep of all 11 categories would put her at 30 wins, matching the current record held by Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. That makes her nomination total more than a headline statistic. It creates a genuine opportunity for another major milestone.
The possibility gives Madonna one of the most compelling storylines heading into the September ceremony.
Taylor Swift Has Nine Chances to Make History
Taylor Swift follows Madonna with nine nominations.
Swift is competing for Video of the Year with “The Fate of Ophelia.” She is also nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Pop.
Her remaining nominations include Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.
The nine nominations give Swift multiple opportunities to add another Moon Person to her collection.
Swift currently shares the record for the most VMA wins with Beyoncé at 30. If Swift wins even one award at the 2026 ceremony, she will move into sole possession of the record.
That makes every Swift nomination more significant. Her race is not simply about adding another award to an already impressive collection. One victory would change the VMA record book.
She also competes directly against Madonna in several of the ceremony’s most important categories.
Video of the Year Has a Strong 2026 Lineup
Video of the Year is again one of the central awards of the ceremony.
The 2026 nominees are:
- 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”
The category brings together established superstars and a newer name in GENER8ION.
Madonna and Swift immediately stand out because their videos also earned recognition in several creative categories. Grande and Carpenter bring strong recent VMA momentum, while Bruno Mars adds another major contender.
Grande enters the race as the previous Video of the Year winner after taking the award in 2025.
A repeat victory would give her another major accomplishment at the VMAs.
Artist of the Year Creates Another Major Battle
The Artist of the Year category features six major contenders:
- Ariana Grande
- Bruno Mars
- Madonna
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
The category is particularly notable because Madonna and Swift are already leading the overall nomination race.
Grande and Carpenter also have seven nominations each, giving them substantial representation across the ceremony.
Bruno Mars has five nominations, while Morgan Wallen joins the field with an opportunity to compete against some of the biggest pop names of the year.
Artist of the Year is one of the awards that puts an artist’s broader impact into focus rather than concentrating on a single technical element of a music video.
For Swift and Madonna, the category adds another direct point of competition.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter Each Earn Seven
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter sit just behind Madonna and Swift with seven nominations each.
Grande’s nominations include Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. She is also recognized in Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Visual Effects.
Carpenter also appears in several major categories.
Her seven nominations include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Collaboration, Best Direction and Best Editing.
Carpenter’s nomination for Song of the Year comes from “Bring Your Love,” her collaboration with Madonna.
That collaboration gives both artists another shared connection during the ceremony.
Grande, meanwhile, has a chance to follow up her 2025 Video of the Year win with another major result.
Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson Collect Five Nominations
Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each earned five nominations.
Mars is represented in Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. “I Just Might” also appears in Best R&B, Best Direction and Best Editing.
PinkPantheress receives recognition for “Stateside + Zara Larsson.” The collaboration competes in Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Dance, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects.
Larsson shares the same five nominations connected to the collaboration.
The strong showing gives both artists several opportunities to take home a Moon Person.
It also shows how collaborations remain an important part of the 2026 awards field.
Best Collaboration Features Several Major Pairings
The Best Collaboration category brings together six notable combinations:
- Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice — “Chains & Whips”
- French Montana and Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”
- Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”
- PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
- Shakira and Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”
- Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye — “Hard Part”
The category covers multiple styles and generations.
Madonna and Carpenter’s nomination stands out because both artists are already among the most nominated acts of the year.
PinkPantheress and Larsson also have a strong overall presence because their collaboration appears in several categories.
Shakira and Burna Boy bring another major international pairing to the competition.
Best Pop Includes Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter
The Best Pop category features seven nominees:
- Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
- Charli xcx — “SS26”
- LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
- Olivia Rodrigo — “drop dead”
- Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
- Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
- Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
The category includes several of the year’s most prominent pop artists.
Swift’s inclusion gives her another chance to increase her VMA total.
Grande and Carpenter also compete after collecting seven nominations each overall.
LISA’s nomination adds international and K-pop representation to the category, while Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae bring additional competition from major pop performers.
K-Pop Has a Strong Presence
K-pop has an important role in the 2026 nominations.
The Best K-Pop nominees are:
- BLACKPINK — “JUMP”
- BTS — “SWIM”
- CORTIS — “REDRED”
- KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
- LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS — “SPAGHETTI”
- LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
BTS also receives a Song of the Year nomination for “SWIM.”
LISA has four nominations overall. Her solo track “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” appears in Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
BLACKPINK also receives a separate Best K-Pop nomination for “JUMP.”
The category includes both established global groups and newer acts.
CORTIS is also among the first-time nominees, making its appearance especially notable.
Best New Artist Introduces a New Generation
The Best New Artist category features eight nominees:
- Bella Kay
- CORTIS
- Magnus Ferrell
- Malcolm Todd
- Myles Smith
- Sienna Spiro
- Stella Lefty
- Tucker Wetmore
The category provides one of the clearest looks at emerging artists competing for major VMA recognition.
Several nominees are also represented in other categories.
CORTIS, for example, is nominated for Best K-Pop as well as Best New Artist. Stella Lefty is also nominated in the country field.
Best New Artist has a different voting schedule from most of the other fan-selected awards. Voting remains open through the live ceremony.
That means the winner of the category will be decided closer to the actual broadcast.
Best Dance Returns to the VMAs
One of the notable changes in this year’s nominations is the return of Best Dance.
The category returns after a seven-year absence.
The nominees are:
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless — “New Religion”
- Harry Styles — “Aperture”
- Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNWAY”
- Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
- PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
- Slayyyter — “DANCE…”
- Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Madonna’s nomination gives her another opportunity to add to her already impressive nomination total.
Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Doechii, PinkPantheress and Tate McRae also bring recognizable names to the category.
The return of the award expands the range of musical styles represented at the ceremony.
Hip-Hop and R&B Remain Major Categories
The hip-hop field includes major names from across the genre.
Cardi B featuring Kehlani is nominated for “Safe.” Other nominees include Don Toliver’s “E85,” Drake’s “Janice STFU,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “LOVER GIRL,” Travis Scott’s “DUMBO” and Tyler, The Creator’s “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.”
The Best R&B category features:
- 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”
The categories give established stars and major contemporary performers a chance to compete for genre honors.
Latin Music Gets Its Own Spotlight
The Best Latin category includes a strong international lineup.
Nominees include Anitta featuring Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, KAROL G, Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, Ryan Castro featuring Kapo and GANGSTA, and Shakira featuring Burna Boy.
The category reflects the growing presence of Latin music within the broader VMA lineup.
Shakira has three nominations overall, giving her several opportunities during the ceremony.
Her collaboration with Burna Boy also competes in Best Collaboration.
Country Artists Are Represented Across the Nominations
Country music has its own competitive category this year.
The nominees include Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Stella Lefty and Tucker Wetmore.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is also nominated for Song of the Year.
Stella Lefty and Tucker Wetmore are among the newer artists receiving recognition across the 2026 nominations.
The country category therefore includes both established performers and emerging talent.
Technical Categories Give More Artists a Chance to Win
The 2026 ceremony is not only about the biggest headline awards.
Several categories recognize the creative teams responsible for the visual presentation of music.
Best Direction includes Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, GENER8ION, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift.
Best Art Direction recognizes projects from Charli xcx, Lady Gaga and Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, SOMBR and Taylor Swift.
Best Cinematography includes A$AP Rocky, Ariana Grande, LISA, Madonna, Shaboozey and Taylor Swift.
Best Editing features Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, LISA, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift.
Best Choreography includes GENER8ION, Harry Styles, KATSEYE, Madonna, Tate McRae and Taylor Swift.
Best Visual Effects also gives Grande, JISOO X ZAYN, Madonna, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer and Swift an opportunity to win.
These categories help explain why several artists have high nomination totals. A single music video can compete across many different areas.
Twenty-Six First-Time Nominees Join the Competition
The 2026 ceremony includes 26 first-time VMA nominees.
The group includes artists such as GENER8ION, Yung Lean, CORTIS, Stella Lefty, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro and Tucker Wetmore.
Their presence adds a new dimension to a ceremony dominated by artists with extensive award-show histories.
For newer performers, a nomination alone represents an important step.
The competition also creates an interesting contrast with Madonna and Swift, who have spent decades building their VMA records.
When the 2026 VMAs Will Take Place
The MTV Video Music Awards will be held Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The ceremony will air live in the United States at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific.
CBS and MTV will carry the broadcast, while Paramount+ will stream the event for U.S. viewers.
The Los Angeles ceremony brings the VMAs back to the area after several recent editions were held elsewhere.
For fans following the nominations, September 27 will be the date when the current list turns into the official winners.
Fan Voting Is Already Underway
Fan voting opened with the nomination announcement on August 18.
Voting is available in 13 categories.
Most voting will close on September 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern, or 3 p.m. Pacific.
Best New Artist is different. Voting for that award will remain open during the live ceremony.
The voting period gives fans several weeks to support their favorite performers.
Because Swift and Beyoncé currently share the record for most VMA wins, even a single Swift victory could become one of the night’s biggest moments.
Madonna’s potential climb toward 30 wins provides another historic storyline.
What to Watch Before the Ceremony
Several races deserve particular attention as the ceremony approaches.
Madonna’s 11 nominations make her the overall leader. Swift’s nine give her the clearest opportunity to challenge that lead.
Grande and Carpenter each have seven nominations, putting both artists in strong positions across several categories.
Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each have five.
LISA’s four nominations also give her a notable presence, especially across the pop and K-pop categories.
Beyond the biggest names, the 26 first-time nominees create an opportunity for newer performers to establish themselves on one of music’s most recognizable award stages.
The return of Best Dance also gives fans another category to follow.
Why the 2026 Race Is So Significant
The current nomination list combines several different kinds of VMA storylines.
There is the battle for the most nominations. There is the fight for the most career wins. There are returning champions, major collaborations and first-time nominees.
Madonna and Swift sit at the center of the historical conversation.
Madonna has the highest nomination total, while Swift has the clearest path to becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history.
At the same time, Grande and Carpenter are positioned as major contenders, while Mars, PinkPantheress, Larsson and LISA have multiple opportunities to collect awards.
The genre categories broaden the competition even further.
K-pop, Latin, country, hip-hop, R&B, alternative, pop and dance all have dedicated recognition, making the 2026 ceremony a wide-ranging celebration of music videos and the artists behind them.
The Road to September 27
The nomination announcement has now established the main competition.
Fans will continue voting through the designated deadlines, while the artists wait to discover which nominations become Moon Person victories.
The biggest question is whether Madonna can turn her 11 nominations into enough wins to challenge the all-time record. Swift faces an equally important question: can one of her nine nominations produce the victory that puts her alone at the top?
Those two historic possibilities give the 2026 VMAs a particularly strong narrative before the ceremony even begins.
For now, Madonna leads the nomination count, Swift remains close behind, and a large field of established stars and newcomers is preparing for one of music’s most closely watched award nights.
Which artist do you think will have the biggest night at the 2026 VMAs? Share your prediction in the comments and stay tuned for the latest confirmed updates.