2026 MTV VMAs: Full List of Nominees and How to Vote

The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have officially been announced, with Madonna leading this year’s race with 11 nominations.

Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson also have a strong showing with five nominations each.

The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Full List of 2026 MTV VMAs Nominees

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
GENER8ION – “Storm Starring Yung Lean”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR

BTS – “Swim”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
HUNTR/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Raye – “Where Is My Husband!!”

BEST NEW ARTIST

Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty

BEST COLLABORATION

Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips”
French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”

BEST POP

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Charli xcx – “SS26”
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Drop Dead”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

BEST HIP-HOP

Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe”
Don Toliver – “E85”
Drake – “Janice STFU”
Megan Thee Stallion – “Lover Girl”
Travis Scott – “Dumbo”
Tyler, the Creator – “Sugar on My Tongue”

BEST R&B

Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious”
Dave & Tems – “Raindance”
Justin Bieber – “Yukon”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Geese – “Taxes”
MGK & Fred Durst – “Fix Ur Face”
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
Olivia Rodrigo – “The Cure”
Sombr – “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Twenty One Pilots – “Drag Path”

BEST DANCE

Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion”
Harry Styles – “Aperture”
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “Runaway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Slayyyter – “Dance…”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”

BEST LATIN

Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka”
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
Fuerza Regida – “Tu Sancho”
Karol G – “Papasito”
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta – “La Villa”
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”

BEST K-POP

Blackpink – “Jump”
BTS – “Swim”
Cortis – “REDRED”
Katseye – “Pinky Up”
LE SSERAFIM (feat. J-Hope of BTS) – “Spaghetti”
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”

BEST COUNTRY

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell”
Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle”
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
Stella Lefty – “Boston”
Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette”

BEST DIRECTION

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
GENER8ION – “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “Opalite”

BEST ART DIRECTION

Charli xcx – “SS26”
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “Runway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Sombr – “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

A$AP Rocky – “Punk Rocky”
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

BEST EDITING

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

GENER8ION – “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Harry Styles – “Dance No More”
Katseye – “Pinky Up”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Jisoo X Zayn – “Eyes Closed”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Raye ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

How to Vote for the 2026 MTV VMAs

• Visit the official MTV VMA voting page.
• Select the category you want to vote in.
• Choose your preferred nominee.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your vote.
• Repeat the process for the other eligible categories.