Madonna Reigns Supreme: Full 2026 VMA Nominations List Revealed
Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMAs with 11 Nominations — A Simple Guide to This Year’s Biggest Music Awards
The Big News: Madonna Makes History Again
Madonna is the queen of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs)! She has 11 nominations — the most of any artist this year. This is a personal record for her. The last time she led the nominations was way back in 1998 (with 9 nods for "Ray of Light") and 1990 (with 9 nods for "Vogue").
IMPORTANT POINT: Madonna stole the show at the very first VMAs in 1984 with her famous "Like a Virgin" performance. Now, 42 years later, she’s back on top!
Who Else Got Lots of Nominations?
Here are the top contenders:
| Artist | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Madonna | 11 |
| Taylor Swift | 9 |
| Ariana Grande | 7 |
| Sabrina Carpenter | 7 |
| Bruno Mars | 5 |
| PinkPantheress | 5 |
| Zara Larsson | 5 |
| LISA (from BLACKPINK) | 4 |
FUN FACT: 7 out of the top 8 artists with the most nominations are women!
Video of the Year — The Biggest Prize
This year’s nominees for Video of the Year are all longer-form films (like mini-movies):
- Madonna – "Confessions II – The Film" (14 minutes)
- Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia"
- Ariana Grande – "hate that i made you love me"
- Bruno Mars – "I Just Might"
- Sabrina Carpenter – "Tears"
- GENER8ION – "STORM" (starring Yung Lean)
TREND ALERT: The last two winners were also long films! Taylor Swift’s "All Too Well: The Short Film" (15 min) won in 2022, and Ariana Grande’s "Brighter Days Ahead" (26 min) won in 2023.
Artist of the Year — Who’s the Biggest Star?
Nominees:
- Ariana Grande (6th nomination — record!)
- Taylor Swift (5th nomination)
- Bruno Mars (3rd nomination)
- Sabrina Carpenter (2nd nomination)
- Morgan Wallen (2nd nomination — represents country music)
- Madonna (1st nomination ever in this category!)
NOTABLE: For the first time since 2017, no hip-hop artists were nominated. For the first time in 5 years, no Latin artists were nominated.
Best New Artist — Fresh Faces to Watch
Nominees:
- Bella Kay
- CORTIS
- Magnus Ferrell
- Malcolm Todd
- Myles Smith
- Sienna Spiro (also a top Grammy contender!)
- Stella Lefty
FIRST-TIMERS: GENER8ION, Yung Lean, CORTIS, and Stella Lefty are all first-time nominees with multiple nods!
Genre Categories — Something for Everyone
Best Pop (All women nominees!)
- Ariana Grande, Charli xcx, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift
Best Hip-Hop
- Cardi B, Don Toliver, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, Tyler, The Creator
Best R&B
- Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Dave & Tems, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis
Best Alternative
- Geese, mgk & Fred Durst, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, SOMBR, Tame Impala, twenty one pilots
Best Dance (Category returns after 7 years!)
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga & Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson, Slayyyter, Tate McRae
Best Latin
- Anitta with Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, KAROL G, Rosalía, Ryan Castro, Shakira & Burna Boy
Best K-Pop
- BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM, LISA
Best Country
- Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Stella Lefty, Tucker Wetmore
Technical Categories — Behind the Scenes Magic
These awards celebrate the craft of making music videos:
| Category | What It Means (ELI5) |
|---|---|
| Best Direction | Who guided the whole video like a movie director |
| Best Art Direction | Who designed the look, sets, and style |
| Best Cinematography | Who made the camera work look beautiful |
| Best Editing | Who cut the footage together perfectly |
| Best Choreography | Who created the dance moves |
| Best Visual Effects | Who added the cool computer graphics |
Big names nominated across multiple technical categories: Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, LISA, GENER8ION, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars
How to Vote — Your Voice Matters!
Fan voting is OPEN for 13 categories!
Steps to Vote:
- Go to vote.MTV.com
- Pick your favorites in each category
- Vote every day until September 25 at 6 PM ET
PRO TIP — "Power Hour":
- Daily from 1–2 PM ET (Aug 20 – Sept 24)
- You get DOUBLE VOTES during this hour!
- Best New Artist voting stays open during the live show
When & Where to Watch
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30–9:30 PM ET / 4:30–6:30 PM PT |
| TV Channel | CBS (2nd year in a row) |
| Also On | MTV (simulcast), Paramount+ (streaming) |
| Location | Peacock Theatre, Los Angeles |
| Global Access | Next day on Paramount+ & MTV worldwide |
FIRSTS: First LA show since 2017. First fall VMAs ever (usually late summer)!
Who’s Making the Show?
- Produced by: Gunpowder & Sky
- Producer: Van Toffler (2nd year)
- Executive Producers: Jesse Ignjatovic, Barbara Bialkowski, Bruce Gillmer, Barry Barclay, Floris Bauer
- Co-Executive Producer: Melanie Block
- Co-Producer: Gary Lanvy
Quick Summary
- Madonna leads with 11 nominations — her personal best!
- Taylor Swift follows with 9 (she has 30 VMAs total — the record)
- 7 of top 8 nominees are women
- Video of the Year features 6 long-form films
- Best Dance category returns after 7 years
- Fan voting open now at vote.MTV.com (double votes during Power Hour!)
- Show airs Sept 27 on CBS from LA’s Peacock Theatre
FAQ — Your Questions Answered
1. What are the VMAs?
The MTV Video Music Awards celebrate the best music videos of the year. They’re famous for iconic performances and "Moon Person" trophies (the little astronaut statue).
2. Why does Madonna have so many nominations this year?
Her 14-minute film "Confessions II – The Film" is nominated in almost every category — Video of the Year, Best Dance, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, Best Visual Effects, plus Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration!
3. Can I vote for the winners?
YES! Fans vote for 13 categories at vote.MTV.com. Voting closes Sept 25 at 6 PM ET (except Best New Artist, which closes during the show).
4. What’s "Power Hour"?
Every day from 1–2 PM ET (Aug 20 – Sept 24), your votes count double! Set a reminder to maximize your impact.
5. Why are some categories missing this year?
Categories like Best Rock, Best Afrobeats, Best Pop Artist, Best Group, and Song of Summer weren’t announced in the initial nominee list. They might be added later or replaced.
Ready for the show? Mark your calendar for September 27th and start voting today!