Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter Among 2026 MTV VMA Nominations — Full List
The Queen of Pop dominates the awards show with a total of 11 nominations.
MADONNA, TAYLOR SWIFT, ARIANA GRANDE, SABRINA CARPENTER: Photographed by Rafael Pavarotti, courtesy of Taylor Swift, photographed by Katia Temkin, Bryce Anderson
MADONNA: Photographed by Rafael Pavarott
The 2026 Video Music Awards (VMA) are upon us, and the nominations have been announced.
Set for September 28, 2026 (PH Time), this year’s edition of the annual awards ceremony features a strong showing for female artists. Madonna leads the way with 11 nominations, receiving nods for her Confessions II era. This tops the Queen of Pop’s then-most nods with nine in 1990 and 1998. In 1998, she won her first-ever Video of the Year with “Ray of Light.”
Taylor Swift places second with a total of nine nominations for her hits from The Life of a Showgirl — “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite.”
Ariana Grande earns seven nominations for her “hate that i made you love me,” the lead track of her eighth studio album, petal. Also with a total of seven nominations is Sabrina Carpenter for her Man’s Best Friend tracks “House Tour” and “Tears,” along with her feature on Madonna’s “Bring Your Love.”
The 2026 VMAs mark the first time the Best Rock and Best Afrobeats categories aren’t included, along with the Best Pop Artist, Best Group, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Song of the Summer, Video for Good, and Best Long-Form Video.
This year’s edition will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, the first time since 2017 that it has been held in the area. It will also be the first time the ceremony takes place in the fall, as past editions were held in late summer.
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards:
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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – 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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – 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 feat. 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 – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – 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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV VMAs with 11 nominations for her Confessions II era, marking her most nominations in a single year. It surpasses her previous high of nine nods, earned in both 1990 and 1998, when she won her first Video of the Year for “Ray of Light.”
The 2026 MTV VMAs take place September 28, 2026 (PH time) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It marks the first time the ceremony has returned to the Los Angeles area since 2017 and the first time it has aired in the fall rather than late summer.
Taylor Swift ranks second with nine nominations for “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite,” both from The Life of a Showgirl. Ariana Grande follows with seven nods for “hate that i made you love me,” the lead single from her eighth studio album, petal.
The 2026 MTV VMAs dropped several categories, including Best Rock, Best Afrobeats, Best Pop Artist, Best Group, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Song of the Summer, Video for Good, and Best Long-Form Video, narrowing the show’s overall award lineup.
Yes. Sabrina Carpenter has seven nominations, tying Ariana Grande, for “House Tour” and “Tears” from Man’s Best Friend, plus her featured credit on Madonna’s “Bring Your Love,” which is also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration.
