The field is set for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earned seven nominations apiece.
The star-studded ceremony will also celebrate some of music’s biggest icons. Nirvana will receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, while Taylor Swift will be honored with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors and is expected to premiere the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the show.
The MTV Video Music Awards will air live on CBS and MTV on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT from Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg will host the show, which will open with Madonna’s first VMA performance in 23 years.
See the complete 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, “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 feat. 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 feat. 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”
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 feat. 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 feat. 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, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Sombr, “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky, “Punk Rocky”
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Harry Styles, “Dance No More”
Katseye, “Pinky Up”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Jisoo x Zayn, “Eyes Closed”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Group
Blackpink
BTS
Cortis
Fuerza Regida
Geese
Katseye
Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film”
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Best Album
Drake, Iceman
Madonna, Confessions II
Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
Song of the Summer
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “Risk It All”
Charli xcx, “Camera”
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Katseye, “Hootie Frutti”
Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy”
Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now”
Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$”
Sombr, “Homewrecker”
Stella Lefty, “Boston”
Tame Impala and Jennie, “Dracula”
Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You”