Madonna is once again at the center of the music world after earning the most nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The pop icon received 11 nominations, putting her ahead of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter as this year’s race for the coveted Moon Person trophies begins. The nominations celebrate a wide range of artists across pop, hip-hop, Latin, K-pop, country, and technical categories ahead of the awards ceremony on September 27 in Los Angeles.
Madonna Returns to the Top of the VMAs
Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations, including recognition in some of the night’s biggest categories. Her visual project “Confessions II – The Film” is nominated for Video of the Year, while she is also in contention for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Bring Your Love,” her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
The project also earned nominations in several technical categories, including Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, and Best Visual Effects, highlighting the production’s creative achievements.
Taylor Swift and Pop Stars Stay Close Behind
Taylor Swift follows Madonna with nine nominations, keeping her among the night’s strongest contenders. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson collected five nominations apiece.
Other artists recognized across multiple categories include LISA, Shakira, Tate McRae, BTS, BLACKPINK, and several first-time nominees, reflecting the growing diversity of today’s global music industry.
Major Categories Feature Fierce Competition
The Video of the Year category includes:
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
- Ariana Grande
- Bruno Mars
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Gener8ion & Yung Lean
Meanwhile, the Artist of the Year nominees include Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, and PinkPantheress, setting up one of the most competitive races of the evening.
Fans Can Help Decide the Winners
Fan voting is now open in 13 categories and will remain available through September 25. The Best New Artist category will stay open until the live broadcast.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on September 27 from Los Angeles across CBS, MTV, and Paramount+, with more announcements, including the show’s host and special honors, expected before the ceremony.
Closing
With 11 nominations, Madonna enters the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards as the artist to beat, marking another remarkable chapter in her decades-long career. While Taylor Swift and several of today’s biggest stars remain close behind, this year’s VMAs promise an exciting night filled with fierce competition, memorable performances, and fan-driven victories as music’s biggest names compete for one of the industry’s most recognizable awards.
