Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMA Nominations
Madonna has secured a prominent place in the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, announced by the network on Tuesday. Known as a pop superstar, Madonna has been nominated throughout every decade of her musical journey. With 19 competitive MTV VMA victories, she became the first solo female artist to win the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
This year, Madonna is up for 11 awards, including video, artist, and song of the year. Other categories include best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects. Winning all would see her tying Beyoncé and Taylor Swift as the most-awarded musician in VMA history, each with 30 awards. Eminem holds the record for male artists with 15 VMAs.
Taylor Swift follows closely with the second-highest nominations, totaling nine. Winning even one award would crown her as the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Swift’s nominations include video and artist of the year, alongside best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects.
Other notable artists include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nominations each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson have five. Blackpink’s LISA lands four nominations, with Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean tied with three.
The artist of the year category sees nominations for Grande, Mars, Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Madonna, and Swift.
The top prize, video of the year, features Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Just Might,” Carpenter’s “Tear,” and GENER8ION’s “Storm” starring Yung Lean. This two-hour show airs live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific on September 27. Globally, it streams the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
CBS hosts multiple awards shows, including the Tonys and American Music Awards. Although it has aired the Grammys since 1973, the show moves to ABC in 2027.
This year’s VMAs introduce 26 first-time nominees such as GENER8ION and Yung Lean, each with three nominations for “Storm,” and K-pop band CORTIS with viral singer Stella Lefty receiving two. Other first-time nominees include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore, and Sienna Spiro.
The best dance category returns after seven years, featuring McRae’s “Nobody’s Girl,” Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ “New Religion,” Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii’s “Runway,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” with Larsson, and Slayyyter’s “Dance …”
Fan voting opened online Tuesday across 13 categories, closing on September 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific. The best new artist category remains open during the show.
An earlier edition misnamed Lady Gaga and Doechii’s song “Runway.”