Madonna and Taylor Swift are the top nominees at this year’s Video Music Awards , with the former snagging 11 and the latter with nine. That includes nods for Video of the Year—Madge for Confessions II - The Film , Tay for Life of a Showgirl’s “The Fate of Ophelia”—alongside Bruno Mars (“I Just Might”), Gener8ion and Yung Lean (“Storm”), Ariana Grande (“Hate That I Made You Love Me”) and Sabrina Carpenter (“Tears”).
Other notable nods include PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson (each with five total, including their Song of the Year remix collab “Stateside”) and Geese (one total, for “Taxes” in Best Alternative).
Per Billboard , several categories from previous years were not part of this year’s VMAs announcement: Best Rock, Best Afrobeats, Best Pop Artist, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Video for Good, Best Long-form Video, Best Group, and Song of the Summer.
The 2026 VMAs will broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 and will once again air on CBS (with a simulcast on Paramount+ and on its original home of MTV). Snoop Dogg is set to host the ceremony, where Nirvana will be honored with this year’s Video Vanguard Award.
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 - Golden Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love Olivia Dean - Man I Need PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside Raye - Where Is My Husband!
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance® 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 & Max B - Ever Since U Left Me Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside 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 & Kentara Sakaguchi - Dream Olivia Rodrigo - Drop Dead Sabrina Carpenter - House Tour Tate McRae - Nobody’s Girl Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia
Best Hip-Hop Cardi B & 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, presented by Bacardí® Rum Bebe Rexha & Faithless - New Religion Harry Styles - Aperture Lady Gaga & Doechii - Runway Madonna - Confessions II - The Film PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside Slayyyter - Dance… Tate McRae - Nobody’s Girl
Best Latin Anitta & Shakira - Choka Choka Bad Bunny - Nuevayol Fuerza Regida - Tu Sancho Karol G - Papasito Rosalía & Yahritza y Su Esencia - La Perla Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta - La Villa Shakira & Burna Boy - Dai Dai