Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMA Nominations: Full List

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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