We’re officially getting a pop diva showdown at the the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna leads the pack with 11 nominations, closely followed by Taylor Swift, who scored nine. Now we anxiously wait to see which of the 2 behemoths will take the top awards as the VMAs quickly approach!
The Queen of Pop is riding high after her record Confessions II topped the Billboard 200 last month. Her visual project Confessions II – The Film scored a nod for Video of the Year, while her Sabrina Carpenter duet “Bring Your Love” is up for Song of the Year. Meanwhile, Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl era continues its victory lap, earning a Video of the Year nomination for “The Fate of Ophelia” alongside nods in major technical categories.
Both icons are up for Artist of the Year, set to compete against Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, and Morgan Wallen. Grande and Carpenter are tied for third place overall with seven nods apiece.
Format Tweaks and Omissions
MTV is bringing back the Best Dance category after a seven-year hiatus, placing Madonna’s visual album alongside tracks from Harry Styles, Lady Gaga with Doechii, and Slayyyter.
However, several long-standing categories were cut from the initial lineup. Billboard reports that Best Rock, Best Afrobeats, Best Pop Artist, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Video for Good, Best Long-form Video, Best Group, and Song of the Summer are absent from this year’s announcement.
The Main Event Details
The ceremony will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, broadcasting on CBS with simultaneous streaming on Paramount+ and MTV. This marks the show’s return to L.A. for the first time since 2017. Fan voting remains open through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. ET.
The host and the recipient of this year’s Video Vanguard honor will be announced in the coming weeks.
2026 MTV VMA Nominees
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 + 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, Malice – “Chains & Whips”
- French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
- Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
- PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
- 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 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”
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- PinkPantheress + 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 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 – “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 – “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”
