Meanwhile, 26 artists have been nominated for the first time, including Noah Kahan and Olivia Dean.

Madonna, Taylor Swift lead 2026 MTV VMA nominations — see the full list

Meanwhile, 26 artists have been nominated for the first time, including Noah Kahan and Olivia Dean.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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August 18, 2026 12:15 p.m. ET

Madonna at the Met Gala in New York in May 2025; Taylor Swift at the ‘Toy Story 5’ world premiere in Los Angeles in June 2026. Credit:

Kevin Mazur/Getty (2)

- Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations with 11 nods this year, followed by Taylor Swift with 9 chances to snag another Moon Person.

- Among the 26 first-time VMA nominees are Olivia Dean, Noah Kahan, and Kali Uchis.

- The MTV VMAs air on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT on CBS and MTV.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are here, with two legendary showgirls in the lead.

Musicians and artists who have taken the industry by storm with their songs and visuals are being recognized. The categories are packed with talent and many newcomers this time around.

Leading the pack is Madonna with 11 nods, which could add to her growing collection of 19 Moon Persons. Following her, Taylor Swift, who already has a cool 30 Moon Persons, received nine nominations this year.

Among other artists with several nods are Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nominations each, Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five nominations, followed by LISA with four nominations, and Shakira and Tate McRae with three nods each.

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Meanwhile, among the 26 first-time nominees who could snag a Moon Person are CORTIS, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro, Tucker Wetmore, and Yung Lean.

Fan voting is currently open for 13 categories (including the Best Dance category, returning for the first time in seven years) at vote.mtv.com, now through Sept. 25. The Best New Artist category will remain active into the awards show.

The MTV VMAs will broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. See the full list of nominees below.

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”

Madonna performs at the ‘Celebration Tour’ at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in May 2024.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande**Bruno Mars**Madonna**Morgan Wallen**Sabrina Carpenter**Taylor Swift

Joey Fatone details Michael Jackson's 'freak-out' during NSYNC's infamous VMAs performance

Mariah Carey receives Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs

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 - “Stateside + Zara Larsson”**RAYE - “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

Best New Artist

Bella Kay**CORTIS**Magnus Ferrell**Malcolm Todd**Myles Smith**Sienna Spiro**Stella Lefty

Shakira performs at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro in May 2026.

Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty

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 - “Stateside + Zara Larsson”**Shakira & Burna Boy - “Dai Dai”**Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye - “Hard Part”

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”

Taylor Swift performs at the Eras Tour in Seattle in July 2023.

Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Best Hip-Hop

Cardi B ft. Kehlani — “Safe”**Don Toliver — “E85”**Drake — “Janice STFU”**Megan Thee Stallion — “LOVER GIRL”**Travis Scott — “DUMBO”**Tyler, The Creator — “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE”

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”

Bruno Mars performs at Resorts World Las Vegas in October 2021.

Bryan Steffy/Getty

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”

Bebe Rexha & Faithless - “New Religion” - Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE**Harry Styles - “Aperture” - Columbia Records**Lady Gaga & Doechii - “RUNAWAY” - Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records**Madonna - “Confessions II - The Film” - Warner Records**PinkPantheress - “Stateside + Zara Larsson” - Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records**Slayyyter - “DANCE…” - RECORDS/Columbia Records**Tate McRae - “Nobody’s Girl” - RCA Records

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”

BLACKPINK —“JUMP”**BTS —“SWIM”**CORTIS —“REDRED”**KATSEYE —“PINKY UP”**LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI”**LISA —“Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”

Lisa performs at Sahara Tent during Coachella in Indio in April 2025.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

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”

Ariana Grande performs at the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in March 2025.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Best Art Direction

Charli xcx —“SS26”**Lady Gaga & Doechii —“RUNAWAY”**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”

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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”

- Awards Shows & Events

- MTV Video Music Awards

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