The 2026 MTV VMAs nominations are creating major excitement among music fans. Madonna leads this year with 11 nominations. It is also her personal best at the awards.
Madonna last led the VMA nominations in 1998. That year, she won Video of the Year for “Ray of Light.” She also led the nominations in 1990. At that time, she received nine nominations.
This year, Madonna earned a major nomination for Video of the Year. Her 14-minute project is titled “Confessions II – The Film.” Interestingly, longer videos have recently found success in this category. Taylor Swift won in 2022 with “All Too Well: The Short Film.” Ariana Grande then won last year with “Brighter Days Ahead.”
Taylor Swift Receives Nine Nominations
Taylor Swift ranks second among the 2026 MTV VMAs nominees. She received nine nominations this year. Swift already holds the record for the most Moon Person wins, with 30.
Meanwhile, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter received seven nominations each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each earned five. LISA follows with four nominations.
Notably, women dominate the top of this year’s nominations list. Seven of the eight artists with the most nominations are women.
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Video of the Year Nominees
The Video of the Year category features six nominees. Ariana Grande earned a nomination for “hate that i made you love me.” Bruno Mars is nominated for “I Just Might.”
GENER8ION is also nominated for “STORM,” starring Yung Lean. Madonna competes with “Confessions II – The Film.” Sabrina Carpenter received a nomination for “Tears.” Finally, Taylor Swift is nominated for “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Moreover, three previous winners return to the category. Grande, Madonna and Swift have all won Video of the Year before. However, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and GENER8ION are seeking their first win in the category.
Ariana Grande Leads Artist of the Year Nominations
Ariana Grande earned her sixth Artist of the Year nomination. This extends her record in the category. Taylor Swift follows with her fifth nomination.
Madonna also makes history in this category. She received her first Artist of the Year nomination. Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter complete the lineup.
However, this year’s category has some notable omissions. For the first time since 2017, no hip-hop artist received an Artist of the Year nomination. Also, no Latin artist made the category for the first time in five years.
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Best New Artist Nominees
The Best New Artist category features seven nominees. They are Bella Kay, CORTIS, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty.
Among them, Sienna Spiro is viewed as a leading Grammy contender for Best New Artist. Ella Langley is another artist mentioned in connection with that Grammy race. However, she was nominated for Best New Artist at last year’s VMAs but did not reach the final three.
More 2026 MTV VMAs Categories
The 2026 MTV VMAs include several genre categories. These include Best Pop, Best Hip-Hop, Best R&B, Best Alternative and Best Dance.
The awards also include Best Latin, Best K-Pop and Best Country. Therefore, fans will see a wide range of musical styles represented.
The Best Dance category is especially notable. It returns for the first time in seven years. Madonna is among the nominees. She competes against Bebe Rexha and Faithless, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Doechii, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, Slayyyter, and Tate McRae.
When Are the 2026 MTV VMAs?
The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place on Sunday, September 27. The event will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
The ceremony will air live on CBS. It will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET. It will also air from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT. Additionally, MTV will simulcast the show. Paramount+ will stream it in the United States.
Fan voting is already open in 13 categories. Voting will remain open until September 25 at 6 p.m. ET. Best New Artist voting will continue into the show.
Furthermore, fans can earn double votes during the daily Power Hour. This special voting period runs from August 20 through September 24.
Overall, the 2026 MTV VMAs nominations feature some of music’s biggest names. Madonna leads the field with a record 11 nominations. Taylor Swift follows closely with nine.
Meanwhile, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter remain strong contenders. Rising artists also have opportunities to make an impact.
As a result, the 2026 MTV VMAs should deliver a competitive night. Fans can also take part through the official voting process. The awards will bring together major stars, rising talent and memorable music videos.
