The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) return to Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, 2026, broadcasting live from the Peacock Theater. Madonna dominates this year’s lineup with 11 nominations – marking a career-high single-year tally for the pop icon – followed closely by Taylor Swift with nine.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earned seven nominations each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson captured five apiece.
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Complete List of Nominees
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 feat. 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 ft. 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 ft. 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)
Read Also: Angélique Kidjo breaks another record for African artists
BEST K-POP
- Blackpink – “Jump” (YG Entertainment)
- BTS – “Swim” (BIGHIT MUSIC)
- Cortis – “REDRED” (BIGHIT MUSIC)
- Katseye – “Pinky Up” (HYBE x Geffen Records)
- LE SSERAFIM (feat. J-Hope of BTS) – “Spaghetti” (SOURCE MUSIC)
- Lisa – “Dream” feat. 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 – “Runway” (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 feat. 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 feat. 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 ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” (Human Re Sources)
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” (Republic Records)
How MTV VMAs Voting Works
Public voting is live across 13 fan-selected categories through September 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET (voting for Best New Artist remains open through the live broadcast).
- Platform: Head to the official MTV VMAs online voting portal.
- Selection: Browse the relevant category tab and choose your preferred act or music video.
- Submission: Follow the prompts to record your entry, then proceed to vote across any remaining eligible sections on the MTV VMAs voting platform.
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