2026 MTV VMAs nominations: Madonna leads with Taylor close behind

Taylor Swift is close behind Madonna with nine nominations to her name, including Artist of the Year.  

Other acts up for Artist of the Year include Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and Morgan Wallen.  

Song of the Year also has BTS’ SWIM, Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas, Olivia Dean’s Man I Need, and many more.  

You can check out the full list of nominations and their chosen category below.  

When is the VMAs ceremony taking place and how can I watch it?  

The VMAs will broadcast live from Los Angeles on Monday, 7 September, airing simultaneously on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+. 

Can I vote in this year’s VMAs?  

Fan voting for all 13 VMA categories is open now and will close on Friday, 25 September at 6pm ET (10pm UK time), though voting for Best New Artist will continue into the show itself. Click here to vote.  

What is the full nomination list for this year’s VMAs? 

You can find the full list here: 

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 — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” 
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 — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” 
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 — “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” 
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”