MTV announced the nominees for the 2026 Video Music Awards on Tuesday, August 18.
Madonna leads the list with 11 nominations, including Video of the Year for her “Confessions II” short film, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter.
The Queen of Pop, 68, is already a 20-time VMA recipient going into this year’s ceremony, including her 1986 Video Vanguard Award. Having been nominated in every decade since launching her music career in 1982, she has become synonymous with the VMAs thanks in large part to her instantly iconic performances of “Like a Virgin” and “Vogue” in 1984 and 1990, respectively.
Ever the reinventionist, Madonna has been riding high since the July 3 release of her 15th studio album, Confessions II, which is a sequel to her 2005 classic, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Confessions II debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and many critics have called it the singer’s best album in more than two decades.
Taylor Swift follows Madonna with nine VMA nominations this year, also including Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Artist of the Year. With a career total of 30 VMAs already to her name, the “Opalite” singer, 36, needs just one more Moon Person trophy to become the most awarded artist in the show’s four-decade history.
See the complete list of nominations below before the VMAs air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on CBS, MTV and Paramount+ on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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 and Rei Ami – “Golden”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress and 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 and Malice – “Chains & Whips”
French Montana and Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Shakira and Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”
Best Pop
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Charli XCX – “SS26”
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi “Dream”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Drop Dead”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B featuring 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 and Tems – “Raindance”
Justin Bieber – “Yukon”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”
Best Alternative
Geese – “Taxes”
MGK and 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 and Faithless – “New Religion”
Harry Styles – “Aperture”
Lady Gaga and Doechii – “Runway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and 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 featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – “La Villa”
Shakira and 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 featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi “Dream”
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”
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 and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
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 featuring Kentaro 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 featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi “Dream”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
Gener8ion – “Storm”
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 and Zayn – “Eyes Closed”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Raye featuring Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
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