Pop stars Madonna and Taylor Swift received the most nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards announced on August 18.
Madonna leads all contenders with 11 nominations for her album Confessions II, while Swift received nine nominations. Both artists will compete against each other in major categories including Video of the Year and Artist of the Year.
The annual awards ceremony, which honors the best achievements in the music video medium, will air live on CBS and MTV on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The event features winners awarded the Moon Person statuette, one of the music industry's most recognizable accolades.
The 2026 ceremony could prove historic for Swift, who is currently tied with Beyoncé for the most MTV Video Music Award wins in history at 30 statuettes. A single victory at the September event would give Swift sole possession of the all-time record.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter follow closely behind the top nominees with seven nominations each, including nods in the Best Pop category. Carpenter earned a nomination as Madonna's collaborator on the track "Bring Your Love." Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson earned five nominations each, while LISA of BLACKPINK earned four. Shakira and Tate McRae received three nominations each.
The 2026 edition of the awards marks the return of the Best Dance category, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum, after a seven-year absence since 2019. The category pits Madonna, McRae, PinkPantheress and Larsson against Harry Styles, Bebe Rexha, Slayyyter, and the collaborative track "RUNWAY" by Lady Gaga and Doechii from The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Major categories and top contenders
The Video of the Year category features six nominees: Ariana Grande for "hate that i made you love me" on Republic Records, Bruno Mars for "I Just Might" on Atlantic Records, GENER8ION for "STORM starring Yung Lean" on Iconoclast Music, Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film" on Warner Records, Sabrina Carpenter for "Tears" on Island, and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia" on Republic Records.
For Artist of the Year, Grande, Mars, Madonna, Carpenter and Swift are nominated alongside country singer Morgan Wallen of Big Loud and Mercury Records. The Song of the Year category includes BTS for "Swim" on BIGHIT MUSIC, Ella Langley for "Choosin' Texas" on Columbia Records, HUNTR/X featuring EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI for "Golden" on Republic Records and Visva Records, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter for "Bring Your Love" on Warner Records, Olivia Dean for "Man I Need" on Island, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for "Stateside" on Warner Records UK and Atlantic Records, and RAYE for "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!" on Human Re Sources.
A group of artists are competing for their first Moon Person trophy this year. The Best New Artist category, presented by The General Insurance®, features Bella Kay on Atlantic Records, CORTIS on BIGHIT MUSIC, Magnus Ferrell on Visva Records and Republic Records, Malcolm Todd on Columbia Records, Myles Smith on RCA Records, Sienna Spiro on Capitol Records, and Stella Lefty on Sandlot and Atlantic Outpost. Spiro, GENER8ION, CORTIS and Lefty are all first-time nominees, alongside Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan and Olivia Dean who are also competing for their first awards.
Genre categories and nominees
In Best Pop, Grande, Carpenter and Swift compete against Charli xcx for "SS26" on Atlantic Records, LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi for "Dream" on Lloud Co. and RCA Records, Olivia Rodrigo for "drop dead" on Geffen Records, and Tate McRae for "Nobody's Girl" on RCA Records. Best Hip-Hop nominees feature Cardi B featuring Kehlani for "Safe" on Atlantic Records, Don Toliver for "E85" on Cactus Jack and Atlantic Records, Drake for "Janice STFU" on OVO and Republic Records, Megan Thee Stallion for "LOVER GIRL" on Hot Girl Productions, Travis Scott for "DUMBO" on Cactus Jack and Epic Records, and Tyler, The Creator for "SUGAR ON MY TONGUE" on Columbia Records.
The Best R&B nominees are Bruno Mars for "I Just Might", Chris Brown for "It Depends/Obvious" on RCA Records, Dave and Tems for "Raindance" on Neighbourhood Recordings and Capitol Records, Justin Bieber for "YUKON" on Def Jam Recordings, Kehlani for "Folded" on Atlantic Records, and Mariah the Scientist with Kali Uchis for "Is It a Crime" on Epic Records. Best Alternative features Geese for "Taxes" on Partisan Records and Play It Again Sam, mgk and Fred Durst for "FIX UR FACE" on EST 19XX LLC and Interscope Records, Noah Kahan for "The Great Divide" on Mercury Records, Olivia Rodrigo for "the cure" on Geffen Records, SOMBR for "Homewrecker" on SMB Music and Warner Records, Tame Impala for "Dracula" on Columbia Records, and twenty one pilots for "Drag Path" on Fueled By Ramen.
Best Collaboration features Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for "Chains & Whips" on Roc Nation Distribution, French Montana and Max B for "Ever Since U Left Me" on Coke Boys Records, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter for "Bring Your Love", PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for "Stateside", Shakira and Burna Boy for "Dai Dai" on Sony Music US Latin, and Teyana Taylor with Lucky Daye for "Hard Part" on Def Jam Recordings. In Best Latin, nominees include Anitta with Shakira for "Choka Choka" on Republic Records and UMLE, Bad Bunny for "NUEVAYoL" on Rimas Entertainment, Fuerza Regida for "TU SANCHO" on Rancho Humilde, Street Mob Records and Sony Music US Latin, KAROL G for "Papasito" on Bichota Records and Interscope Records, Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia for "La Perla" on Columbia Records, Ryan Castro, Kapo and GANGSTA for "LA VILLA" on AWOO Corp. and Sony Music US Latin, and Shakira with Burna Boy for "Dai Dai".
Best K-Pop nominees include BLACKPINK for "JUMP" on YG Entertainment, BTS for "SWIM", CORTIS for "REDRED", KATSEYE for "PINKY UP" on HYBE and Geffen Records, LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS for "SPAGHETTI" on SOURCE MUSIC, and LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi for "Dream". In Best Country, Ella Langley is nominated for "Choosin' Texas", Kacey Musgraves for "Dry Spell" on Lost Highway and Interscope Records, Lainey Wilson for "Somewhere Over Laredo" on Broken Bow Records, Luke Combs for "Back in the Saddle" on Columbia Nashville, Shaboozey for "Cowgirl" on American Dogwood and EMPIRE, Stella Lefty for "Boston", and Tucker Wetmore for "Brunette" on Back Blocks Music and Mercury Records.
Professional craft categories
The craft categories recognize technical and creative work behind the scenes. Best Direction nominees include Ariana Grande for "hate that i made you love me", Bruno Mars for "I Just Might", GENER8ION for "STORM starring Yung Lean", Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", Sabrina Carpenter for "House Tour", and Taylor Swift for "Opalite". Best Art Direction features Charli xcx for "SS26", Lady Gaga and Doechii for "RUNWAY", Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for "Stateside", SOMBR for "My Body Isn't Ready" on SMB Music and Warner Records, and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia".
Nominees for Best Cinematography are A$AP Rocky for "PUNK ROCKY" on A$AP Worldwide and RCA Records, Ariana Grande for "hate that i made you love me", LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi for "Dream", Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", Shaboozey for "Cowgirl", and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia". Best Editing features Ariana Grande for "hate that i made you love me", Bruno Mars for "I Just Might", LISA for "Dream", Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", Sabrina Carpenter for "House Tour", and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia".
Best Choreography includes GENER8ION for "STORM starring Yung Lean", Harry Styles for "Dance No More" on Columbia Records, KATSEYE for "PINKY UP", Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", Tate McRae for "Nobody's Girl", and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia". Best Visual Effects features Ariana Grande for "hate that i made you love me", JISOO X ZAYN for "Eyes Closed" on Warner Records, Madonna for "Confessions II - The Film", PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for "Stateside", RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer for "Click Clack Symphony." on Human Re Sources, and Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia".
Voting rules and red carpet history
Voting for 13 of the award categories opened following the announcement at vote.mtv.com and will close on September 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET. However, voting for the Best New Artist category will remain active through the live broadcast on September 27.
The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to honor top music videos and have become a major annual fixture in pop culture, celebrated for high-profile red carpet fashion and unexpected live performances. Last year's 2025 event saw memorable red carpet appearances from stars including Lady Gaga in Marc Jacobs, Sabrina Carpenter in custom Valentino, Ariana Grande in custom Fendi with Swarovski jewelry, Jessica Simpson in Christian Siriano, Doja Cat in Balmain, Ice Spice in Ralph Lauren, and Paris Hilton in The Blonds.
Other attendees at the 2025 ceremony included FKA twigs, Conan Gray in Erik Charlotte, GloRilla in Helen Anthony, Lenny Kravitz in Saint Laurent, Ciara in Schiaparelli, Taylor Momsen, Alix Earle in Tom Ford, Tyla in vintage Chanel, Ricky Martin, Tate McRae in custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Nicky Hilton, Yungblud, Ashlee Simpson, Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, Summer Walker carrying a Simitri bag, Megan Moroney, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Lauren Sorrentino, Sexxy Red, Nikki Glaser in Ludovic de Saint Sernin, KATSEYE in Dolce & Gabbana, and Ty Dolla $ign.
