Madonna and Taylor Swift are the most nominated artists at the Video Music Awards 2026, with a minimal but significant gap: 11 nominations for Madonna, 9 for Taylor Swift.
The ceremony will be held on Sunday 27 September in Los Angeles, with Madonna leading the race thanks to Confessions II – The Film, nominated in the most coveted category, Video of the Year. Taylor Swift also enters the same section with “The Fate of Ophelia”, taken from Life of a Showgirl. Completing the five are Bruno Mars with “I Just Might”, Gener8ion and Yung Lean with “Storm”, Ariana Grande with “Hate That I Made You Love Me” and Sabrina Carpenter with “Tears”.
Madonna’s presence in the nominations takes on a particular weight: with 11 nominations, the singer consolidates one of the longest-lasting trajectories in the history of the VMAs, while Swift confirms her dominance over the current grammar of pop music videos.
Other names to note include PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, both with five nominations. The two artists also compete together for Song of the Year with the remix of “Stateside”. A nomination arrives for Geese, nominated in the Best Alternative category with “Taxes”.
However, the 2026 edition presents some changes in the category structure. As reported by Billboard, this year Best Rock, Best Afrobeats, Best Pop Artist, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Video for Good, Best Long-form Video, Best Group and Song of the Summer are not among the announced sections.
The host of the evening and the recipient of the Video Vanguard Award, one of the most prestigious awards given by the VMAs, still remain to be revealed.
THE NOMINATIONS
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
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 – Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Raye – Where Is My Husband!
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance®
Beautiful 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 – Come on come on
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
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 Alternatives
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
Best Dance, presented by Bacardí® Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Openings
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 – Come on come on
Best K-Pop
Blackpink – Jump
BTS – Swim
Cortis – RedRed
Katseye – Pinky Up
Le Sserafim & J-Hope of BTS – Spaghetti
Lisa & Kentara 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 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
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
ON AIR
The 2026 Video Music Awards will broadcast live from Los Angeles on September 27 on CBS, with simulcasts on Paramount+ and MTV.
WEB & SOCIAL
https://www.instagram.com/vmas/
