Madonna attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026, in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Madonna is the top nominee heading into the 2026 MTV VMAs, the network announced on Tuesday, with the pop icon earning 11 nominations overall this year, including for artist of the year, video of the year, song of the year for her Sabrina Carpenter collaboration “Bring Your Love” and video of the year for “Confessions II – The Film.”
Taylor Swift, the most-awarded act in VMAs history, came in second this year with nine nominations, including for artist of the year and video of the year with “The Fate of Ophelia.” Ariana Grande and Carpenter are tied for third with seven each. Both earned artist and video of the year nods as well; Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” is up for video of the year, as is Carpenter’s “Tears.”
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The last two acts for this year’s video of the year race are Bruno Mars for “I Just Might,” and Gener8ion for “STORM starring Yung Lean.” Mars, who has five nominations overall, is also up for artist of the year, with Morgan Wallen rounding out the nominees in the category.
Madonna’s VMAs feat is the latest in a resurgent year for the superstar, whose Confessions II debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart last month. The album has been widely regarded as her best since 2005’s original Confessions on a Dance Floor.
For song of the year, along with “Bring Your Love,” the rest of the nominees are BTS’s “Swim,” Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” K-Pop Demon Hunters‘ smash “Golden,” Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside” remix and Raye’s “Where is My Husband!”
This year’s best new artist race features Bella Kay, Malcom Todd, CORTIS, Sienna Spiro, Myles Smith, Stella Lefty and Magnus Ferrell.
This year’s show, which will once again air on CBS and simulcast on MTV, will also feature the best dance category for the first time in seven years.
The VMAs are set to air live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27, marking the first time the show will have taken place in L.A. since 2017. Fans are able to vote on the categories from now through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. ET.
A complete list of this year’s nominees follows.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- Island Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records Madonna – Warner Records Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records Sabrina Carpenter – Island Taylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by The General Insurance®
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records Myles Smith – RCA Records Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
BEST COLLABORATION
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead” – Geffen Records Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions Travis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records Tyler, The Creator – “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records Justin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
BEST DANCE, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records ate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
BEST LATIN
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
BEST K-POP
BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC CORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
BEST COUNTRY
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records
BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST EDITING
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
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