2026 MTV VMAs Nominees: Madonna and Taylor Swift Lead the Way

On Tuesday, August 18, MTV revealed the nominees for the 2026 Video Music Awards.

Madonna tops the nominations list with 11 nods, including Video of the Year for her short film “Confessions II,” as well as Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Bring Your Love” featuring Sabrina Carpenter.

The iconic Queen of Pop, aged 68, already boasts 20 VMA wins heading into this year’s event, which includes the Video Vanguard Award she received in 1986. Having received nominations in every decade since her career began in 1982, Madonna has become a defining figure at the VMAs, largely due to her legendary performances of “Like a Virgin” and “Vogue” in 1984 and 1990, respectively.

Known for her continual reinvention, Madonna has been enjoying success following the July 3 debut of her 15th studio album, Confessions II, a follow-up to her 2005 hit, Confessions on a Dance Floor. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has garnered praise, with many critics designating it her best work in over twenty years.

Taylor Swift follows Madonna with an impressive nine VMA nominations this year, including Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Artist of the Year. With a total of 30 VMAs to date, the 36-year-old singer known for “Opalite” needs just one more Moon Person trophy to become the most awarded artist in the history of the show, which spans four decades.

Check out the full list of nominees below before the VMAs air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Video of the Year

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Gener8ion – “Storm”
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 and Rei Ami – “Golden”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
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 and Malice – “Chains & Whips”
French Montana and Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Shakira and Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”

Best Pop

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Charli XCX – “SS26”
Lisa featuring 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 featuring 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 and Tems – “Raindance”
Justin Bieber – “Yukon”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”

Best Alternative

Geese – “Taxes”
MGK and 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 and Faithless – “New Religion”
Harry Styles – “Aperture”
Lady Gaga and Doechii – “Runway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
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 featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – “La Villa”
Shakira and 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 featuring 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”
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 and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
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 featuring 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 featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – “Dream”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Choreography

Gener8ion – “Storm”
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 and Zayn – “Eyes Closed”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Raye featuring Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”