Madonna leads MTV VMAs 2026 nominations – check out the full list

The nominations for the MTV VMAs 2026 have been announced, with Madonna leading the way. See the full list below. This year’s ceremony is due to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday September 27. It’ll be broadcast live, airing simultaneously on CBS, MTV and Paramount+. The Queen Of Pop has earned 11 nods, including Video Of The Year for the star-studded Confessions II – The Film – which accompanied her acclaimed latest studio album. Madonna is also in the running for Artist Of The Year, as well as Song Of The Year for her ‘Confessions II’ single ‘Bring Your Love’ with Sabrina Carpenter. The joint track is up for Best Collaboration, too. Confessions II – The Film completes the star’s nominations by featuring in the following categories: Best Dance, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects. Taylor Swift follows with nine appearances, including Artist Of The Year and Video Of The Year for ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’. The single is nominated for numerous other awards, while the video for ‘Opalite’ is vying for Best Direction. Recommended Other acts in the running for Artist Of The Year include Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars and Sabrina Carpenter. The Song Of The Year category also features BTS (‘Swim’), Olivia Dean (‘Man I Need’), Raye (‘Where Is My Husband!)’ and more. Elsewhere, Harry Styles has secured a nomination in the Best Dance list for his single ‘Aperture’. Charli XCX is up for two prizes – Best Pop and Best Art Direction – with ‘SS26’. The Best Alternative category includes Geese, Tame Impala, Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr, Noah Kahan and more. Should Swift take home just one prize, she will become the most-awarded artist at the VMAs ever. She currently ties with Beyoncé for having the most wins at the MTV VMAs, with each having 30 to their name. Fan voting for the 2026 ceremony is open now here. Check out the nominations list in full here: 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 Ariana Grande Bruno Mars Madonna Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Song Of The Year BTS – Swim Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas Huntr/x – Golden Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love Olivia Dean – Man I Need PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside Raye – Where Is My Husband! Taylor Swift. CREDIT: Press 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 & 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 & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia Ariana Grande, 2025. CREDIT: Katia Temkin Best Hip-Hop Cardi B & 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 Geese. CREDIT: Mark Sommerfield 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 & Shakira – Choka Choka Bad Bunny – Nuevayol Fuerza Regida – Tu Sancho Karol G – Papasito Rosalía & 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 & J-Hope of BTS – Spaghetti Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream BTS. CREDIT: Big Hit Music 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 & Zara Larsson – Stateside Sombr – My Body Isn’t Ready Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Bruno Mars. CREDIT: Press Best Cinematography A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream 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 & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream 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 & Zayn – Eyes Closed Madonna – Confessions II – The Film PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside Raye & Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia RAYE live at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME Meanwhile, an immersive exhibition celebrating Madonna’s 68th birthday recently opened in London. In other news, Glastonbury boss Emily Eavis has responded to speculation that the star will headline the Pyramid Stage next year. The singer teamed up with Kylie Minogue earlier this month on ‘Love Sensation (Afterhours Mix)’. She has since paid tribute to her late former producer William Orbit, saying that “in many ways you were my ray of light”. In a four-star review of ‘Confessions II’, NME wrote: “By drawing from her past, both personally and musically, Madonna has made her most vital album in over two decades. This grande dame still knows how to make us move.”