Taylor Swift and Madonna Lead 2026 MTV VMA Nominations: See the Complete List

Ladies rule the world! Females were the dominant force at MTV’s VMA nominations this year. Madonna led the pack with the most nomations follwed by Taylor Swift with Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpnter tailing in third. Only a handful of gents got nods including Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallace and the world magnificent seven, BTS.

Read on to find out who was nominated, how to vote, and where to watch the MTV VMA Awards.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

What are the MTV VMAs?

The VMAs (“Video Music Awards”) is an awards show established by MTV to honor the best music vidos and pop culture moments.

When is the MTV VMAs?

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Where can I watch the MTV VMAs?

The MTV VMAs will be broadcast live on MTV. It will also be simulcast live on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+.

Who Received the Most 2026 VMA Nominations?

Madonna received the most nominations with 11, followed by Taylor Swift with 9. It was tie for third place with 7 nomination east for Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter.

Related: Bob Dylan’s 1965 Music Video Beat Decades of Music Icons to Be Named the Greatest Ever

2026 MTV VMA Full List of Nominees

Video of the Year Nomine

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 Nominees

Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

Related: Nicole Kidman Leaves Fans Doing a Double Take in Surprise Music Video Appearance

Song of the Year Nominees

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 Nominees

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 – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”

Related: Ariana Grande Defends Controversial New Music Video Amidst Intense Backlash: ‘I Love This Video with My Entire Heart’

Best Pop

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”

Best Hip-Hop

Cardi B ft. 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 – “RUNAWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg
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 ft. 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 (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI”
LISA —“Dream feat. 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 feat. 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 feat. 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 X ZAYN —“Eyes Closed”
Madonna —“Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress —“Stateside + Zara Larsson”
RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer —“Click Clack Symphony.”
Taylor Swift —“The Fate of Ophelia”

How and When to Vote for the 2026 VMAs

You can vote at the MTV VMA Portal here. Polls are open at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 18 through 5:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 25. There are three Double Days – Aug. 18, Aug. 19 and Sept. 25, where you’ll get extra r double the number of votes you normally would. You can cast your votes daily Voting for Best New Artist will remain open through the Live Broadcast until the winner is announced.

Next, 1971 Classic Rock Hit, Remade 32 Years Later With a Music Video Starring Halle Berry, Was Originally Written for an Abandoned Rock Opera