2026 MTV VMA Nominations: Madonna and Taylor Swift Lead the Race
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards air live on September 27 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring Madonna leading the nominations with 11 nods and Taylor Swift securing nine while preparing to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors and make history as the most-awarded artist in VMA competition.
The Race for the Moon Person Record
As the entertainment industry gathers for the late-September awards calendar, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards set up a historic showdown between two pop icons. A sweep would bring Madonna to 30 competitive VMA wins, tying the all-time record.
Taylor Swift follows closely with nine nominations, covering Video and Artist of the Year, Best Pop, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography, and Visual Effects. Ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony, it was announced that Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, recognizing artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video storytelling. This special honor will bring her total to 31 wins, making her the most-awarded artist in VMA history.
Following Madonna and Swift in the nomination counts are Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson secured five nominations apiece. BLACKPINK member LISA holds four nods, and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean each received three.
Top Category Showdowns and First-Time Nominees
The top-tier categories feature crowded fields of established hitmakers and emerging talents. The Video of the Year race pits Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” GENER8ION’s “STORM starring Yung Lean,” Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears,” and Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” against one another. The Artist of the Year category features Grande, Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Carpenter, and Swift.
The 2026 nominations also highlight a broad generational mix, with 26 artists earning their first VMA nods. Among them are GENER8ION and Yung Lean with three nominations each, and K-pop newcomers CORTIS with two. Additional first-time nominees include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro, Stella Lefty, and Tucker Wetmore. The genre categories mark the return of Best Dance for the first time in seven years, featuring nominees such as Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress, and Tate McRae.
Broadcast Details, Hosting, and Live Performances
The two-hour ceremony broadcasts live on CBS on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. This marks the first time since 2017 that the VMAs have selected a venue outside of New York or New Jersey. The event is simulcast on MTV and available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S., with global streaming access rolling out the following day.
Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner who made his VMA debut in 1994, hosts the 2026 ceremony. The performance lineup includes Madonna opening the show for her first VMA performance in 23 years. Additional performances feature Kacey Musgraves paying homage to Dolly Parton, who passed away in August at age 80; Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims paying tribute to George Michael on the ten-year anniversary of his passing; alongside sets from Raye, GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, Lisa, and Sienna Spiro.
Taylor Swift is also scheduled to debut the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the broadcast. Swift directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.