MTV Video Music Awards nominations complete list 2026

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MTV Video Music Awards nominations complete list 2026

More than 40 years after her iconic “Like a Virgin” performance rocked the very first MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna is back in a big way.

The Queen of Pop leads the 2026 nominees with 11 nods including artist of the year and song of the year for “Bring Your Love.” She’s followed closely by another pop superstar: Taylor Swift. “The Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter has nine nominations including artist of the year, video of the year and best pop for “The Fate of Ophelia.”

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson clocked in with five.

The VMAs bring together the biggest artists of the year to celebrate the top songs and music videos chosen by fans. Voting is open for 13 categories at vote.mtv.com through 6 p.m. ET Sept. 25. Voting for the best new artist category will remain active into the awards show.

This year’s ceremony will air live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and stream on MTV and Paramount+ Premium.

2026 MTV VMA nominations

Video of the year

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”– Island
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Artist of the year

Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Madonna – Warner Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the year

BTS, “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources

Best new artist

Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

Best collaboration

Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

Best pop

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best hip-hop

Cardi B featuring Kehlani, “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver, “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake, “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion, “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott, “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, The Creator, “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records

Best R&B

Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems, “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber, “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani, “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records

Best alternative

Geese, “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst, “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “the cure” – Geffen Records
SOMBR, “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala, “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots, “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

Best dance

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

Best Latin

Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Fuerza Regida, “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G, “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

Best K-pop

BLACKPINK, “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
BTS, “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
CORTIS, “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (featuring j-hope of BTS), “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

Best country

Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty, “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records

Best direction

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift, “Opalite” – Republic Records

Best art direction

Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic 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
SOMBR, “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best cinematography

A$AP Rocky, “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best editing

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best choreography

GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles, “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best visual effects

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
JISOO X ZAYN, “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Renan Cardoso 28 minutes ago