Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMA Nominations: Full List

Madonna, who stole the show at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984 with a jaw-dropping performance of “Like a Virgin,” is the leading nominee for the 2026 VMAs with 11 nods. It’s the first time Madonna has been the leading nominee since 1998, the year she won video of the year for the first time with “Ray of Light.” She was also the leading nominee in 1990, the year she was nominated for the top award with “Vogue.” In both of those years, she had nine nominations. This year’s tally of 11 nods represents a personal best for the legendary star.

Madonna’s 14-minute “Confessions II – The Film” is nominated for video of the year. Two recent winners in that category were likewise longer-form pieces: Taylor Swift’s 15-minute “All Too Well: The Short Film,” which won in 2022, and Ariana Grande’s 26-minute “Brighter Days Ahead,” which won last year.

Swift, who has won a record 30 Moon Persons, is second on the leaderboard with nine nominations. Other top contenders include Grande and Sabrina Carpenter (seven nods each); Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson (five each); and LISA (four). You’ll notice that seven of the eight artists with the most nominations this year are women.

Three past winners for video of the year are nominated in that marquee category again this year: Grande (“hate that i made you love me”), Madonna (“Confessions II – The Film”) and Swift (The Fate of Ophelia).” The three other nominees, vying for their first win in the category, are Mars (“I Just Might”), Carpenter (“Tears”) and GENER8ION (“Storm”), starring Yung Lean.

The latter video may be the least known of this year’s video of the year nominees and thus stands to gain the most by the nomination. Gener8ion is an audiovisual collaboration between French DJ Surkin and director Romain Gavras. “Storm” stars Swedish rapper Yung Lean, who plays a disruptive and aggressive student at an all-boys British boarding school.

Grande is nominated for artist of the year for a record-extending sixth time. Swift is a beat behind, landing her fifth nomination in the category. Morgan Wallen is nominated for the second year in a row, giving country representation in a high-profile category. The other nominees in the category are Mars (his third), Carpenter (her second) and Madonna (her first). For the first time since the category was introduced in 2017, no hip-hop artists were nominated in the category. For the first time in five years, no Latin artists were nominated in the category.

The nominees for best new artist are Bella Kay, CORTIS, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty. Spiro is considered a leading candidate for the Grammy for best new artist, along with Ella Langley, who wasn’t named in this category.

First-time nominees receiving multiple nods are GENER8ION and Yung Lean (three each) and CORTIS and Lefty (two each). Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean and Tucker Wetmore are also among those competing for their first Moon Persons.

The best dance category returns for the first time in seven years. Madonna has yet to win in the category, which was first presented in 1989. She may well win this year for “Confessions II –the Film.” The other nominees in the category are Bebe Rexha & Faithless’ “New Religion,” Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga & Doechii’s “RUNWAY,” PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson’s “Stateside,” Slayyyter’s “DANCE…”  and Tate McRae’s “Nobody’s Girl.”

Two genre categories that were presented on last year’s show, best rock and best Afrobeats, were not in the initial announcement of nominees. Also missing, for now at least, are these categories that were presented last year: best pop artist, Push performance of the year, best album, video for good, best long-form video, best group and song of summer.

All of the lead nominees for best pop are women, though a few male artists who might have been nominated in that category wound up in different genre categories instead. Bruno Mars (“I Just Wait”) and Justin Bieber (“YUKON”) are nominated for best R&B; Harry Styles (“Aperture”) for best dance.

Fan voting is now open for 13 categories by visiting vote.MTV.com through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. ET, except best new artist, which remains active into the show. Fans can get double the votes per category every day during “Power Hour,” running daily 1-2 p.m. ET from Aug. 20 through Sept. 24.

The VMAs will broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 (7:30-9:30 p.m. ET/4:30-6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS. The show will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

This will be the first time the show has been held in the Los Angeles area since 2017, when Katy Perry hosted the show from The Forum in Inglewood. This will be the second year in a row that the show has aired on CBS. It will be the first time the VMAs have been held in the fall. Previous shows were all held in late summer.

The 2026 VMAs are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van Toffler serves as producer for the second year in a row. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers, alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block serves as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer.

Here’s the full list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. (Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by first name.)

• Genre-Neutral Categories

  Video of the Year

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

  GENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- Island

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Artist of the Year

  Ariana Grande – Republic Records

  Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records

  Madonna – Warner Records

  Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records

  Sabrina Carpenter – Island

  Taylor Swift – Republic Records

  Song of the Year

  BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC

  Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records

  HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records

  Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records

  Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island

  PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

  RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources

  Best New Artist

  Bella Kay – Atlantic Records

  CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC

  Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records

  Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records

  Myles Smith – RCA Records

  Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records

  Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

  Best Collaboration

  Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution

  French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records

  Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records

  PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

  Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

  Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

• Genre-Specific Categories

  Best Pop

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records

  LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./RCA Records

  Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead” – Geffen Records

  Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island

  Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Best Hip-Hop

  Cardi B feat. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records

  Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records

  Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records

  Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions

  Travis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records

  Tyler, The Creator- “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records

  Best R&B

  Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

  Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records

  Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records

  Justin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings

  Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records

  Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records

  Best Alternative

  Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam

  mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records

  Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records

  Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records

  SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records

  Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records

  twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

  Best Dance

  Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE

  Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records

  Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

  Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records

  Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

  Best Latin

  Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE

  Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment

  Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin

  KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records

  Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records

  Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin

  Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

  Best K-Pop

  BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment

  BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC

  CORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC

  KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records

  LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC

  LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

  Best Country

  Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records

  Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records

  Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records

  Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville

  Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE

  Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

  Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records

• Technical Categories

  Best Direction

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

  GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”- Island

  Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records

  Best Art Direction

  Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records

  Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

  SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Best Cinematography

  A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Best Editing

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

  LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”- Island

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Best Choreography

  GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music

  Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records

  KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

  Best Visual Effects

  Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

  JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records

  Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

  PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

  RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources

  Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

• Artists with two or more nominations

  (First-time nominees denoted by asterisks)

  Madonna, 11

  Taylor Swift, 9

  Ariana Grande, 7

  Sabrina Carpenter, 7

  Bruno Mars, 5

  PinkPantheress, 5

  Zara Larsson, 5

  LISA, 4

  GENER8ION, 3*

  Shakira, 3

  Tate McRae, 3

  Yung Lean, 3*

  BTS, 2

  Burna Boy, 2

  Charli xcx, 2

  CORTIS, 2*

  Doechii, 2

  Ella Langley, 2

  Harry Styles, 2

  KATSEYE, 2

  Kehlani, 2

  Lady Gaga, 2

  Olivia Rodrigo, 2

  RAYE, 2

  Shaboozey, 2

  SOMBR, 2

  Stella Lefty, 2*