2026 MTV Video Music Awards: Madonna Leads Nominations with 11 Nods
Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with 11 nominations this year. She has a total of 19 competitive wins and was the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986. Following Madonna is Taylor Swift, who has nine nominations and could become the most-awarded artist in VMA history with just one win. Other top nominees include Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson.
The artist of the year category includes Madonna, Swift, Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen. The video of the year category features Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," Madonna's "Confessions II — The Film," Grande's "Hate That I Made You Love Me," Mars' "I Just Might," Carpenter's "Tear," and GENER8ION's "Storm" starring Yung Lean.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on September 27 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and globally the next day. This year's awards show includes 26 first-time nominees, with the best dance category returning after seven years.
Fan voting for the awards began online and will end on September 25. The best new artist category voting will continue during the show. Don't miss the exciting night of music and celebration at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards!