Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMA Awards Nominations

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have announced their nominations, and the leading nominee is none other than the Queen of Pop, Madonna. With 11 nominations, this is the first time Madonna has been the leading nominee since 1998.

Madonna's 14-minute film "Confessions II - The Film" carries the majority of her nominations, including Video of the Year and every technical category (directing, art direction, editing, cinematography, choreography, visual effects). Her duet with Sabrina Carpenter, "Bring Your Love," is up for Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year. Both songs are also nominated for Artist of the Year.

The best dance category returns to the VMAs for the first time in seven years, and Madonna has yet to win in this category, which was first presented in 1989. However, she has been nominated again this year for "Confessions II - The Film." The other nominees in the category are Bebe Rexha & Faithless' "New Religion," Harry Styles' "Aperture," Lady Gaga & Doechii's "RUNWAY," PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson's "Stateside," Slayyyter's "DANCE…," and Tate McRae's "Nobody's Girl."

Taylor Swift, who has won a record 30 Moon Persons (formerly Moon Men), is second with nine nominations. Next up is Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter (seven nods each); Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson (five each); and LISA (four). Seven of the eight artists with the most nominations this year are women. Grande is nominated for Artist of the Year for a record-extending sixth time. Swift is just behind, with her fifth nomination in the category.

The nominees for Best New Artist are Bella Kay, CORTIS, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro, and Stella Lefty.

Fan voting is now open for 13 categories by visiting vote.MTV.com through September 25 at 6 p.m. ET, except for Best New Artist, which remains active into the show. Fans can get double the votes per category every day during "Power Hour," running daily 1-2 p.m. ET from August 20 through September 24.

The VMAs will broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27 (7:30-9:30 p.m. ET/4:30-6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS. The show will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

### Nominees for Video of the Year

| Nominee | Song | Label | | --- | --- | --- | | Ariana Grande | "hate that i made you love me" | Republic Records | | Bruno Mars | "I Just Might" | Atlantic Records | | GENER8ION | "STORM" starring Yung Lean | Iconoclast Music | | Madonna | "Confessions II - The Film" | Warner Records | | Sabrina Carpenter | "Tears" | Island | | Taylor Swift | "The Fate of Ophelia" | Republic Records |

### Nominees for Artist of the Year

| Nominee | Label | | --- | --- | | Ariana Grande | Republic Records | | Bruno Mars | Atlantic Records | | Madonna | Warner Records | | Morgan Wallen | Big Loud/Mercury Records | | Sabrina Carpenter | Island | | Taylor Swift | Republic Records |

### Nominees for Song of the Year

| Nominee | Song | Label | | --- | --- | --- | | BTS | "Swim" | BIGHIT MUSIC | | Ella Langley | "Choosin’ Texas" | Columbia Records | | HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI | "Golden" | Republic Records/Visva Records | | Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter | "Bring Your Love" | Warner Records | | Olivia Dean | "Man I Need" | Island | | PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson | "Stateside" | Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records | | RAYE | "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!" | Human Re Sources |

### Nominees for Best New Artist

| Nominee | Label | | --- | --- | | Bella Kay | Atlantic Records | | CORTIS | BIGHIT MUSIC | | Magnus Ferrell | Visva Records/Republic Records | | Malcolm Todd | Columbia Records | | Myles Smith | RCA Records | | Sienna Spiro | Capitol Records | | Stella Lefty | Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost |