2026 VMAs: List of nominees and how to vote

Here are the key details such as list of nominees and how to vote for the highly anticipated 2926 MTV VMAs.

The nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced, setting up a star-studded race led by Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter.

Madonna leads this year's nominations with 11 nods, her highest-ever total at the VMAs, while Taylor Swift follows closely with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five apiece.

The 2026 VMAs will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Full list of 2026 VMAs nominees

The full list of nominations:

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
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
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “Runaway” – 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
Tate 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

How to vote for the 2026 VMAs

Fans can vote online through the official MTV voting platform.

Vote for the 2026 MTV VMAs
Voting is open in 13 fan-voted categories and will close on September 25 at 6 p.m. ET. The exception is Best New Artist, which will remain open through the live ceremony.

To vote:

• Visit the official MTV VMA voting page.
• Select the category you want to vote in.
• Choose your preferred nominee.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your vote.
• Repeat the process for the other eligible categories.