Madonna Leads the MTV Video Music Award Nominees
FILE PHOTO: Madonna performs during a surprise concert in Times Square, in New York City, U.S., June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
The Celebrity Beat…
The 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominees dropped yesterday and Madonna leads with 11. Yes, Madonna in the year 2026.
Taylor Swift follows with 9 nominations, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are tied with 7 each. The Best Dance category has returned for the first time in seven years. But this year, there is no ROCK category.
Fan voting is currently open at Vote.MTV.com through September 25th. The show airs live on Sunday, September 27th on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+.
Here are the categories you care about:
Video of the Year:
“hate that i made you love me”, Ariana Grande
“I Just Might”, Bruno Mars
“STORM”, GENER8ION starring Yung Lean
“Confessions 2 – The Film”, Madonna
“Tears”, Sabrina Carpenter
“The Fate of Ophelia”, Taylor Swift
Song of the Year:
“Swim”, BTS
“Choosin’ Texas”, Ella Langley
“Golden” from “Kpop Demon Hunters”, HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI
“Bring Your Love”, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter
“Man I Need”, Olivia Dean
“Stateside”, PinkPantheress featuring Zara Larsson
“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”, RAYE
Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
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 featuring 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 Video:
“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 Video:
“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 K-Pop:
“Jump”, Blackpink
“Swim”, BTS
“REDRED”, Cortis
“Pinky Up”, Katseye
“Spaghetti”, LE SSERAFIM featuring J-Hope of BTS
“Dream”, LISA featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Dance:
“New Religion”, Bebe Rexha and Faithless
“Aperture”, Harry Styles
“RUNWAY”, Lady Gaga and Doechii
“Confessions 2 – The Film”, Madonna
“Stateside”, PinkPantheress featuring Zara Larsson
“DANCE…”, Slayyyter
“Nobody’s Girl”, Tate McRae
SOURCE: EW
