The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have added three more nominees to the Best Album category, expanding an already competitive field ahead of the September 27 ceremony. Ella Langley’s Dandelion, Bruno Mars’ The Romantic and Harry Styles’ Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. are now officially part of the race.
The three additions bring even more star power to a category that already features some of the biggest albums of 2026.
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The updated Best Album category already includes Iceman, Confessions II, The Art of Loving, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, Man’s Best Friend, and The Life of a Showgirl.
The additions arrive one day after MTV revealed a wider group of social-category nominees. BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, FLO, Fuerza Regida, Geese, KATSEYE and twenty one pilots are competing for Best Group, while the Song of the Summer field includes Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” Bruno Mars’ “Risk It All,” Charli XCX’s “Camera,” KATSEYE’s “Hootie Frutti,” Latto featuring Doja Cat’s “Okayyy,” Morgan Wallen’s “Been By Now,” Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “House Tour,” Slayyyter’s “brand new chanel$,” SOMBR’s “Homewrecker,” Stella Lefty’s “Boston,” Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” and Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
The social categories add another layer to a ceremony already packed with major performances. LISA is scheduled to perform “SaWaDiKa,” while RAYE, Sienna Spiro, GENER8ION with Yung Lean and Shaboozey have also been announced for the stage.
Madonna will open the September 27 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marking her fifth VMA opening performance. The show will air live at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS, with simulcasts on MTV and Paramount+, setting the stage for a night where the expanded nominee lists will meet the ceremony’s headline performances.
Full list of the 2026 MTV VMAs social category nominees (updated).
Best Group
- BLACKPINK
- BTS
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- twenty one pilots
Best Long Form Video
- Charli XCX — “Music, Fashion, Film” (Atlantic Records)
- Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas” (Columbia Records)
- GENER8ION — “Storm” starring Yung Lean (Iconoclast Music)
- Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film” (Warner Records)
Best Album
- Drake — Iceman
- Madonna — Confessions II
- Olivia Dean — The Art Of Loving
- Olivia Rodrigo — You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
- Sabrina Carpenter — Man’s Best Friend
- Taylor Swift — The Life of a Showgirl
- Ella Langley — Dandelion
- Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. — Harry Styles
- The Romantic — Bruno Mars
Song of Summer
- Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” (Republic Records)
- Bruno Mars — “Risk It All” (Atlantic Records)
- Charli XCX — “Camera” (Atlantic Records)
- Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas” (Columbia Records)
- KATSEYE — “Hootie Frutti” (HYBE x Geffen Records)
- Latto ft. Doja Cat — “Okayyy” (Steamcut / RCA Records)
- Morgan Wallen — “Been By Now” (Big Loud / Mercury Records)
- Olivia Dean — “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” (Island)
- Olivia Rodrigo — “Stupid Song” (Geffen Records)
- Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” (Island)
- Slayyyter — “brand new chanel$” (RECORDS/Columbia Records)
- SOMBR — “Homewrecker” (SMB Music / Warner Records)
- Stella Lefty — “Boston” (Sandlot / Atlantic Outpost)
- Tame Impala & Jennie — “Dracula” (Columbia Records)
- Taylor Swift — “I Knew It, I Knew You” (Walt Disney Records / Republic Records)
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