Madonna leads 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, followed by Taylo…

Madonna leads 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, followed by Taylor Swift

Madonna has earned the highest number of nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with 11 nods, as announced on Tuesday, August 18, according to Yahoo News. She is followed closely by Taylor Swift, who has nine nominations. The two music icons are set to compete in several categories, including video of the year and artist of the year.

Madonna's nominations span every decade of her musical career, and she has been recognized in multiple categories, including video, artist, and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects. A clean sweep would see her draw level with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift as the most-awarded musician in VMA history, with 30 wins, as reported by AOL.

Taylor Swift, on the other hand, needs just one more Moon Person trophy to become the most awarded artist in the show's four-decade history. Her nominations cover video of the year, artist of the year, best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects, according to US Magazine.

Other top contenders include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, who each secured seven nominations, and Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson, who received five apiece. Blackpink's LISA picked up four nominations, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean each received three, as reported by Yahoo Singapore.

The nominees competing alongside Madonna and Swift for artist of the year include Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen. The contenders for the headline award, video of the year, are 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" featuring Yung Lean, according to Billboard.

The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will also simulcast on MTV and be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. International streaming access via Paramount+ and MTV will follow the next day, as reported by AOL.

CBS broadcasts several major ceremonies, such as the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. The network has carried the Grammy Awards since 1973, though broadcasting rights will move to ABC starting in 2027, as reported by Yahoo Singapore.

A total of 26 artists received their first VMA nominations this year, including GENER8ION and Yung Lean, who earned three nominations for their joint track "Storm," as well as K-pop group CORTIS and viral singer Stella Lefty, known for "Boston," with two nods each. Additional first-time nominees comprise Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore, and Sienna Spiro, according to US Magazine.

The best dance category, which returns for the first time in seven years, features McRae's "Nobody's Girl," Bebe Rexha and Faithless' "New Religion," Harry Styles' "Aperture," Lady Gaga and Doechii's "Runaway," Madonna's "Confessions II — The Film," PinkPantheress' "Stateside" featuring Larsson, and Slayyyter's "Dance …", according to Billboard.

Public voting opened online for 13 categories, with polls closing on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific. Voting for best new artist will continue throughout the live broadcast, as reported by Yahoo Singapore.

Full List of Nominees

The full list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards includes:

• 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, REI AMI – "Golden," Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – "Bring Your Love," Olivia Dean – "Man I Need," PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – "Stateside"
• 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 and Sabrina Carpenter – "Bring Your Love," PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – "Stateside," Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – "Hard Part"

The 2026 VMAs are produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with Van Toffler serving as producer for the second year in a row. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski, and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers, alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block serves as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer, according to Yahoo News.