Madonna leads 2026 MTV VMAs nominations
Madonna's new album Confessions II earns 11 nominations for the Video Music Awards
You read that right. Madonna, who just celebrated her 68th birthday and has been active in her career for nearly 48 years, is the most nominated artist for this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.
The queen of pop’s latest album, Confessions II, received 11 nominations. The album’s short film, Confessions II - The Film, is up for major awards including Video of the Year. “Bring Your Love,” Madonna’s collab with Sabrina Carpenter, is also nominated multiple times including Song of the Year.
Madonna is a household name for the VMAs. This marks the first time since 1998 that Madonna leads the nominations. That year, she won Video of the Year for “Ray Of Light.” She also had the most nods in 1990 for “Vogue.” In 1984, she delivered her iconic performance of “Like a Virgin” — which remains one of the most talked-about moments of her career.
Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl singles “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite” earned the newlywed nine nominations. “The Fate of Ophelia” is up for the coveted Video of the Year award.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter trail Swift and Madonna with seven nominations each. All of Grande’s nominations come from her petal single “Hate That I Made You Love Me” while Carpenter snatched nominations of her own, aside from her Madonna collab, with the videos for “House Party” and “Tears.”
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. You can watch them on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+.
Voting is now open at vote.mtv.com until Sept. 25.
Check out the full list of nominees below.
Video of the Year
“Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”I Just Might” - Bruno Mars
”Storm” - Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
Confessions II - The Film - Madonna
”Tears” - Sabrina Carpenter
”The Fate Of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
”Swim” - BTS
”Choosin’ Texas” - Ella Langley
”Golden” - Huntrix
”Bring Your Love” - Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter
”Man I Need” - Olivia Dean
”Stateside” - PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
”Where Is My Husband!” - RAYE
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
”Chains & Whips” - Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Malice
”Ever Since U Left Me” - French Montana and Max B
”Bring Your Love” - Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter
”Stateside” - PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
”Dai Dai” - Shakira and Burna Boy
”Hard Part” - Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye
Best Pop
”Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”SS26” - Charli XCX
”Dream” - Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
”Drop Dead” - Olivia Rodrigo
”House Tour” - Sabrina Carpenter
”Nobody’s Girl” - Tate McRae
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Best Hip Hop
”Safe” - Cardi B featuring Kehlani
”E85” - Don Toliver
”Janice STFU” - Drake
”Lover Girl” - Megan Thee Stallion
”Dumbo” - Travis Scott
”Sugar on My Tongue” - Tyler, The Creator
Best R&B
”I Just Might” - Bruno Mars
”It Depends / Obvious” - Chris Brown
”Raindance” - Dave and Tems
”Yukon” - Justin Bieber
”Folded” - Kehlani
”Is It a Crime” - Mariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis
Best Alternative
“Taxes” - Geese
”Fix Ur Face” - MGK and Fred Durst
”The Great Divide” - Noah Kahan
”The Cure” - Olivia Rodrigo
”Homewrecker” - Sombr
”Dracula” - Tame Impala
”Drag Path” - Twenty One Pilots
Best Latin
”Choka Choka” - Anitta and Shakira
”Nuevayol” - Bad Bunny
”Tu Sancho” - Fuerza Regida
”Papasito” - Karol G
”La Perla” - Rosalia featuring Yahritza y su Esencia
”La Villa” - Ryan Castro, Kapo, and Gangsta
”Dai Dai” - Shakira and Burna Boy
Best K-Pop
“Jump” - Blackpink
”Swim” - BTS
”RedRed” - Cortis
”Spaghetti” - Le Sserafim featuring J-Hope
”Dream” - Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Dance
“New Religion” - Bebe Rexha and Faithless
”Aperture” - Harry Styles
”Runway” - Lady Gaga and Doechii
Confessions II - The Film - Madonna
”Stateside” - PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
”Dance…” - Slayyyter
”Nobody’s Girl” - Tate McRae
Best Country
“Choosin’ Texas” - Ella Langley
”Dry Spell” - Kacey Musgraves
”Somewhere Over Laredo” - Lainey Wilson
”Back in the Saddle” - Luke Combs
”Cowgirl” - Shaboozey
”Boston” - Stella Lefty
”Brunette” - Tucker Wetmore
Best Direction
“Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”I Just Might” - Bruno Mars
”Storm” - Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
Confessions II - The Film - Madonna
”House Tour” - Sabrina Carpenter
”Opalite” - Taylor Swift
Best Art Direction
“SS26” - Charli XCX
”Runway” - Lady Gaga and Doechii
Confessions II - The Film - Madonna
”Stateside” - PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
”My Body Isn’t Ready” - Sombr
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Best Cinematography
“Punk Rocky” - A$AP Rocky
”Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”Dream” - Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
Confessions II - The Film - Madonnna
”Cowgirl” - Shaboozey
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Best Editing
”Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”I Just Might” - Bruno Mars
”Dream” - Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
Confessions II - The Film - Madonnna
”House Tour” - Sabrina Carpenter
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Best Choreography
”Storm” - Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
”Dance No More” - Harry Styles
”Pinky Up” - Katseye
Confessions II - The Film - Madonnna
”Nobody’s Girl” - Tate McRae
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
Best Visual Effects
”Hate That I Made You Love Me” - Ariana Grande
”Eyes Closed” - Jisoo and Zayn
Confessions II - The Film - Madonnna
”Stateside” - PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
”Click Clack Symphony” - RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer
”The Fate of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
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