Madonna scored the most VMA nominations of any artist for the upcoming 2026 awards show.
Madonna, who has long been an VMAs darling with 19 lifetime wins, received 11 VMA nominations, including artist of the year and video of the year for “Confessions II – The Film,” leading her closest competitor, Taylor Swift, by two nods.
Swift, who has 30 wins under her belt, scored nine nominations this year, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter both nabbed seven nods. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson all scored five nods each, while Lisa scored three nominations and and Shakira and Tate McRae received three each.
First time nominees include GENER8ION, Yung Lean, Cortis, Stella Lefty, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro and Tucker Wetmore.
Notably, the best dance category returns for the first time in seven years, with nominees including Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii’s “Runway,” PinkPantheress’ “Stateside + Zara Larsson” and Slayyyter’s “DANCE…”
The show also returns to Los Angeles as it broadcasts live on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on CBS. It will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Fan voting is now open for the 13 categories through Sept. 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET, except for best new artist, which fans can vote for into the show. Fans can get double the votes per category every day during Bacardi Rum’s Power Hour, running daily 1:00-2:00 p.m.,ET from Aug. 20 through Sept. 24. You can vote here.
See the full list of nominations below.
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, presented by The General Insurance® 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, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum 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 LatinKAROL 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 – “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 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
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