Madonna And Taylor Swift Lead The 2026 VMA Nominations

Madonna leads the 2026 MTV VMAs with 11 nominations, while Taylor Swift follows with nine as Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earn seven each.

Madonna Leads A Star-Studded VMA Race

August 18, 2026 – Madonna is heading into the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with the most nominations of any artist this year, earning 11 nods across major categories.

The pop icon is recognized for her work on “Confessions II – The Film,” including nominations for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. Her haul also spans categories celebrating collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

The nominations add another chapter to Madonna’s extraordinary relationship with the VMAs. She has already collected 20 wins throughout her career, making this year’s ceremony another opportunity to add to an already historic awards record.

Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/The Met Museum/Vogue

Taylor Swift Follows With Nine Nominations

Taylor Swift is close behind with nine nominations, continuing her remarkable run at the VMAs.

Swift is nominated for “The Fate of Ophelia” in several categories, including Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. Her nominations also recognize elements of the video’s creative production, including direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Her presence at the top of this year’s nominations is especially significant because a single win could change the history books. Swift currently shares the record for the most VMA wins with Beyoncé at 30. Another victory would give her sole possession of that record.

Ariana Grande And Sabrina Carpenter Make Their Mark

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, putting both pop stars firmly among this year’s leading contenders.

Grande is represented in several of the ceremony’s major categories, while Carpenter is also competing across some of the night’s biggest awards. Both artists have continued to build significant momentum, making their nominations another reflection of the current pop landscape.

The Artist of the Year category brings several of the year’s biggest names together, with Madonna, Swift, Grande, Bruno Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen all competing for the honor.

The Video Of The Year Race Is Packed

One of the night’s most closely watched categories will be Video of the Year.

The nominees include Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film,” Grande’s “brighter days ahead,” Bruno Mars’ nominated work, Carpenter’s “Manchild” and a collaboration from GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean.

The category highlights the continued importance of visual storytelling at the VMAs, where music videos remain central to the ceremony’s identity.

With Madonna and Swift both competing, the award also creates one of the most intriguing head-to-head moments of the night.

Credit: Earl Gibson III/2026GG/Penske Media; Amy Sussman; Kevin Mazur

Bruno Mars And PinkPantheress Join The Top Contenders

Bruno Mars and PinkPantheress each earned five nominations, while Zara Larsson also received five.

LISA of BLACKPINK follows with four nominations, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean each earned three.

The spread demonstrates that this year’s nominations are not limited to the two biggest names at the top. Established stars and artists from different corners of pop music are competing across the ceremony’s major creative and performance categories.

A New Generation Gets Its VMA Moment

The 2026 ceremony will also introduce a significant group of first-time nominees.

Twenty-six artists are receiving their first VMA nominations this year, including Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Stella Lefty and Tucker Wetmore. Their inclusion gives the ceremony an opportunity to spotlight newer voices alongside artists with decades of history at the awards.

That contrast between longtime VMA veterans and first-time nominees is part of what makes the nominations particularly interesting. Madonna’s presence represents several decades of music-video history, while newer nominees are being introduced to the VMA audience on a major stage.

Best Dance Returns To The VMAs

This year’s ceremony is also bringing back Best Dance, a category that has been absent from the VMAs for seven years.

The return reflects the awards’ continuing effort to recognize the visual and performance elements that have traditionally made the ceremony distinctive.

Dance has always played an important role in music videos, live performances and pop culture, so bringing the category back adds another opportunity for choreographers and artists to receive recognition for the work behind some of the year’s biggest visual moments.

Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety

Fans Have A Say In The Winners

Fans will have the opportunity to influence the results in 13 categories through online voting.

Voting is currently open and will continue through September 25, while voting for Best New Artist will remain open until the live ceremony.

That gives supporters of the year’s biggest artists several weeks to make their voices heard before the winners are revealed.

For Madonna and Swift fans in particular, the voting period could become an important part of the build-up to the ceremony as both artists compete for major awards.

The 2026 VMAs Are Set For September

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27.

The ceremony is scheduled to air on CBS and MTV at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, with streaming available through Paramount+.

With Madonna leading the nominations and Swift close behind, the ceremony already has a major storyline before the first award is handed out. Add the return of Best Dance, a large class of first-time nominees and several of today’s biggest pop stars competing across major categories, and the 2026 VMAs are shaping up to be a particularly competitive night.

Final Thoughts

Madonna and Taylor Swift are once again at the center of one of music’s biggest award shows, but this year’s nominations carry significance beyond simply counting trophies.

Madonna’s 11 nominations reinforce her extraordinary longevity, while Swift’s nine give her another opportunity to become the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and a new generation of nominees ensure the ceremony will feature plenty of competition.

With voting underway and the ceremony set for September 27, fans now have several weeks to decide which artists and videos deserve to take home the night’s biggest honors.

FAQs

How many VMA nominations did Madonna receive in 2026?

Madonna received 11 nominations, making her the most-nominated artist at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

How many VMA nominations did Taylor Swift receive?

Taylor Swift received nine nominations, placing her second behind Madonna in this year’s overall nominations.

Who received the most VMA nominations after Madonna and Taylor Swift?

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, followed by Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five each.

When are the 2026 MTV VMAs?

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Sunday, September 27, live from Los Angeles.

Can fans vote for the 2026 VMA winners?

Yes. Fans can vote in 13 categories, with voting scheduled to remain open through September 25. Best New Artist voting will continue until the live ceremony.