Madonna leads 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, followed by Taylo…

Madonna has secured the lead in nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, earning 11 nods — the most of any artist this year. The pop icon, who has been recognized in every decade of her career, is vying for awards in categories including video of the year, artist of the year, and song of the year, among others. Her 11 nominations include nods for her 14-minute short film Confessions II — The Film, which is competing for the top prize of video of the year. Taylor Swift follows closely with nine nominations, positioning her to potentially become the most-awarded artist in VMAs history if she wins even a single trophy.

Madonna has 19 competitive VMA wins, including her 1986 Video Vanguard Award, and is among the most nominated artists in the ceremony’s history. If she were to sweep all 11 of her nominations, she would tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the title of most awarded musician in VMA history, both of whom hold 30 wins. Swift, who has 30 VMAs to her name, is nominated for video of the year for The Fate of Ophelia, as well as artist of the year, best pop, and multiple technical categories. Her potential record-breaking win underscores the competitive nature of this year’s ceremony.

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson earned five each. Blackpink’s LISA and Shakira are tied with four nominations, and GENER8ION, Yung Lean, and Tate McRae each received three. The artist of the year category features Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars, and Morgan Wallen, with the winner set to be announced alongside the video of the year recipient.

The video of the year race includes Confessions II, The Film, The Fate of Ophelia, Hate That I Made You Love Me by Grande, I Just Might by Mars, Tear by Carpenter, and Storm by GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean. The latter, a collaboration between French DJ Surkin and director Romain Gavras, is notable for its relative obscurity compared to its competitors. The category also highlights a shift in focus toward longer-form video content, following recent winners like Taylor Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film and Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead.

The 2026 VMAs will take place on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marking the first time the event has been held on the West Coast in nine years. The two-hour ceremony will air live on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ in the U.S., with global streaming available the following day. Fan voting for 13 categories opened on August 18 and closes on September 25, with the best new artist category remaining open during the live show.

This year’s ceremony also sees the return of the best dance category, which had been absent for seven years. Madonna is a strong contender for the award with Confessions II, The Film, alongside nominees like Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ New Religion, Harry Styles’ Aperture, and PinkPantheress’ Stateside featuring Zara Larsson. The category’s revival reflects a renewed emphasis on dance-oriented music and performance.

The VMAs will feature 26 first-time nominees, including K-pop group CORTIS, viral singer Stella Lefty, and collaborators GENER8ION and Yung Lean. Other newcomers include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, and Noah Kahan. The event’s production is led by Gunpowder & Sky, with Van Toffler serving as lead producer. Madonna’s dominance in nominations highlights her enduring influence on the VMAs, a platform where she has consistently redefined performance and artistry. Her 2026 album Confessions II, a sequel to her 2005 classic, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has been praised as her strongest work in over two decades. Swift’s nominations, meanwhile, reflect her continued dominance in both critical and fan-driven categories, with The Fate of Ophelia serving as a centerpiece of her latest creative endeavor.