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 ceremony 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). The host and this year’s Video Vanguard honoree have yet to be announced.
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
