Madonna is the top nominee heading into the 2026 MTV VMAs, the network announced on Tuesday, with the pop icon earning 11 nominations overall this year, including for artist of the year, video of the year, song of the year for her Sabrina Carpenter collaboration “Bring Your Love” and video of the year for “Confessions II – The Film.”
Taylor Swift, the most-awarded act in VMAs history, came in second this year with nine nominations, including for artist of the year and video of the year with “The Fate of Ophelia.” Ariana Grande and Carpenter are tied for third with seven each. Both earned artist and video of the year nods as well; Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” is up for video of the year, as is Carpenter’s “Tears.”
The last two acts for this year’s video of the year race are Bruno Mars for “I Just Might,” and Gener8ion for “STORM starring Yung Lean.” Mars, who has five nominations overall, is also up for artist of the year, with Morgan Wallen rounding out the nominees in the category
Madonna’s VMAs feat is the latest in a resurgent year for the superstar, whose Confessions IIdebuted atop the Billboard 200 chart last month. The album has been widely regarded as her best since 2005’s original Confessions on a Dance Floor
For song of the year, along with “Bring Your Love,” the rest of the nominees are BTS’s “Swim,” Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” K-Pop Demon Hunters‘ smash “Golden,” Olieside” remix and Raye’s “Where is My Husband!”
This year’s best new artist race features Bella Kay, Malcom Todd, CORTIS, Sienna Spiro, Myles Smith, Stella Lefty and Magnus Ferrell
This year’s show, which will once again air on CBS and simulcast on MTV,will also feature the best dance category for the first time in seven years
The VMAs are set to air live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27, marking the first time the show will have taken place in L.A. since 2017. Fans are able to vote on the categories from now through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. ET
A complete list of this year’s nominees follows
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic RecordsBruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic RecordsGENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast MusicMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- IslandTaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic RecordsBruno Mars – Atlantic RecordsMadonna – Warner RecordsMorgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury RecordsSabrina Carpenter – IslandTaylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSICElla Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia RecordsHUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva RecordsMadonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner RecordsOlira Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic RecordsRAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
BEST NEW ARTIST, presented byThe General Insurance®
Bella Kay – Atlantic RecordsCORTIS – BIGHIT MUSICMagnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic RecordsMalcolm Todd – Columbia RecordsMyles Smith – RCA RecordsSienna Spiro – Capitol RecordsStella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
BEST COLLABORATION
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation DistributionFrench Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys RecordsMadonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner RecordsPinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic RecordsShakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US LatinTeyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic RecordsCharli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic RecordsLISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA RecordsOliouse Tour” – IslandTate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic RecordsDon Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic RecordsDrake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic RecordsMegan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl ProductionsTravis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic RecordsTyler, The Creator – “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic RecordsChris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA RecordsDave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol RecordsJustin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam RecordingsKehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic RecordsMariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sammgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope RecordsNoah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury RecordsOli SMB Music/Warner RecordsTame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Recordstwenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
BEST DANCE, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIREHarry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia RecordsLady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsPinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic RecordsSlayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Recordsate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
BEST LATIN
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLEBad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas EntertainmentFuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US LatinKAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope RecordsRosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia RecordsRyan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US LatinShakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
BEST K-POP
BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG EntertainmentBTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSICCORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSICKATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen RecordsLE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSICLISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
BEST COUNTRY
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia RecordsKacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope RecordsLainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow RecordsLuke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia NashvilleShaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIREStella 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 RecordsBruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic RecordsGENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast MusicMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – IslandTaylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic RecordsLady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsPinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic RecordsSOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner RecordsTaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA RecordsAriana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic RecordsLISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsShaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRETaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST EDITING
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic RecordsBruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic RecordsLISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – IslandTaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast MusicHarry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia RecordsKATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsTate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic RecordsJISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner RecordsMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner RecordsPinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic RecordsRAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re
