The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have officially arrived, with Madonna leading the field after earning 11 nominations, while Taylor Swift follows closely behind with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each collected seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson earned five apiece. BLACKPINK’s LISA also secured four nominations.
Madonna’s dominance comes during a major career resurgence. Her latest era has delivered commercial success and renewed critical acclaim, with Confessions II generating multiple VMA nominations, including Video of the Year. Taylor Swift also remains a central contender thanks to “The Fate of Ophelia,” while Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears” will compete for the ceremony’s biggest prize.
The Artist of the Year lineup brings together six of music’s biggest names: Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift. Each artist has enjoyed a standout 2026 through chart success, blockbuster tours or major album releases, setting up one of the strongest fields in recent memory.
The 2026 VMAs ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 pm ET.
Beyond the headline categories, the VMAs are expected to spotlight dozens of artists across genre-specific awards, technical achievements, and fan-voted honors. Scroll down for the complete list of 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominees and see who could take home Moon Persons this year.
MTV VMAs 2026 Nominations
Video of the Year
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
I Just Might – Bruno Mars
Storm starring Yung Lean – GENER8ION (starring Yung Lean)
Confessions II – Film – Madonna
Tears – Sabrina Carpenter
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
SWIM – BTS
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Golden – HUNTR/X
Bring Your Love – Madonna
Man I Need – Olivia Dean
Stateside – PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson
WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! – RAYE
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcom Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
Chains & Whips – Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice
Ever Since U Left Me – French Montana x Max B
Bring Your Love – Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter
Stateside – Pinkpantheress & Zara Larsson
Dai Dai – Shakira & Burna Boy
Hard Part – Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye
Best Pop
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
SS26 – Charli xcx
Dream – LISA ft. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Drop Dead – Olivia Rodrigo
House Tour – Sabrina Carpenter
Nobody’s Girl – Tate McRae
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Hip-Hop
Safe – Cardi B & Kehlani
E85 – Don Toliver
Janice STFU – Drake
Lover Girl – Megan Thee Stallion
Dumbo – Travis Scott
Sugar On My Tongue – Tyler, the Creator
Best R&B
I Just Might – Bruno Mars
It Depends/Obvious – Chris Brown
Raindance – Dave & Tems
Yukon – Justin Bieber
Folded – Kehlani
Is It a Crime – Mariah The Scientist
Best Alternative
Texas – Geese
Fix Ur Face- mgk & Fred Durst
The Great Divide – Noah Kahan
The Cure – Olivia Rodrigo
Homewrecker – Sombr
Dracula – Tame Impala
Drag Path – Twenty One Pilots
Best Latin
Choka Choka – Anitta & Shakira
Nuevayol – Bad Bunny
Tu Sancho – Fuerza Regida
Papasito – Karol G
La Perla – Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia
La Villa – Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA
Dai Dai – Shakira & Burna Boy
Best K-pop
Jump – BLACKPINK
Swim – BTS
REDRED – CORTIS
Pinky Up – KATSEYE
Spaghetti – LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS)
Dream – LISA ft. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Dance
Nobody’s Girl – Tate McRae
New Religion – Bebe Rexha & Faithless
Aperture – Harry Styles
RUNWAY – Lady Gaga and Doechii
Confessions II — The Film – Madonna
Stateside – PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson
DANCE… – Slayyyter
Best Country
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Dry Spell – Kacey Musgraves
Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Back in the Studio – Luke Combs
Cowgirl – Shaboozey
Boston – Stella Lefty
Brunette – Tucker Wetmore
Best Direction
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
I Just Might – Bruno Mars
Storm – GENER8ION
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
House Tour – Sabrina Carpenter
Opaliteb- Taylor Swift
Best Art Direction
SS26 – Charli xcx
Runway – Lady Gaga & Doechii
Stateside – PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
My Body Isn’t Ready – sombr
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Cinematography
Punk Rocky – A$AP Rocky
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
Dream – LISA
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
Cowgirl – Shaboozey
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Editing
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
I Just Might – Bruno Mars
Dream – LISA
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
House Tour – Sabrina Carpenter
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Choreography
Storm starring Yung Lean – GENER8ION
Dance No More – Harry Styles
Pinky Up – KATSEYE
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
Nobody’s Girl – Tate McRae
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
Best Visual Effects
hate that i made you love me – Ariana Grande
Eyes Closed – JISOO & Zayn
Stateside – PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson
Confessions II – The Film – Madonna
Click Clack Symphony – RAYE
The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
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