Madonna is having a moment — and the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are reflecting it in full. The pop icon earned 11 nominations, the most of any artist this cycle, announced Tuesday morning, capping a year in which her album Confessions II debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 [1]. The record has been widely described as her strongest work since 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor [1].
The Nomination Breakdown
Taylor Swift, the most-decorated act in VMAs history, follows Madonna with nine nominations this year [1]. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are tied for third with seven each [2]. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson each collected five nominations, while BLACKPINK's Lisa earned four, and Tate McRae and Shakira each received three [2].
Morgan Wallen, who has had the best-selling album of the year, received just a single nomination — a slot in the artist of the year category — making his limited presence one of the more notable contrasts in the field [2].
Video and Artist of the Year
The video of the year race brings together six of pop's biggest current forces. Madonna's "Confessions II – The Film" competes against Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," Sabrina Carpenter's "Tears," Ariana Grande's "hate that i made you love me," Bruno Mars's "I Just Might," and Gener8ion's "STORM starring Yung Lean" [1][2].
The artist of the year category mirrors that lineup almost exactly: Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, and Mars are joined by Wallen as the sixth contender [1][2].
Song of the Year and Collaborations
Madonna's collaborative single with Carpenter, "Bring Your Love," is among the song of the year nominees — a category that also includes BTS's "Swim," Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," HUNTR/X's "Golden," Olivia Dean's "Man I Need," PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson's "Stateside" remix, and RAYE's "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!" [1][2].
The best collaboration field is notably star-studded, featuring Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Malice for "Chains & Whips"; Shakira and Burna Boy for "Dai Dai"; and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye for "Hard Part," alongside the Madonna-Carpenter pairing and others [1][2].
Genre Categories and New Additions
The 2026 show marks the return of the best dance category for the first time in seven years [1]. Nominees in that field include Lady Gaga and Doechii for "RUNWAY," Madonna for "Confessions II – The Film," Harry Styles for "Aperture," Bebe Rexha and Faithless for "New Religion," PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, Slayyyter, and Tate McRae [1][2].
Other genre categories span a wide musical landscape. Best hip-hop features Drake, Travis Scott, Tyler the Creator, Cardi B, Don Toliver, and Megan Thee Stallion [1][2]. Best R&B includes Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Kehlani, Dave and Tems, and Mariah the Scientist with Kali Uchis [1][2]. Best K-pop nominees are BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS, and Lisa [1][2]. Best Latin contenders include Bad Bunny, KAROL G, Rosalía, Shakira and Burna Boy, and Anitta with Shakira [1][2].
The best country category features Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Stella Lefty, and Tucker Wetmore [1][2].
Best New Artist
Seven acts are competing for best new artist: Bella Kay, Malcolm Todd, CORTIS, Sienna Spiro, Myles Smith, Stella Lefty, and Magnus Ferrell [1][2]. Notably, that category will remain open for fan votes all the way through the live telecast, unlike the other 13 fan-voted categories, which close September 25 at 6 p.m. ET [2].
The Show Itself
The VMAs will air live on September 27 from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles — the first time the ceremony has been held on the West Coast since 2017, when it was hosted by Katy Perry [2]. The two-hour broadcast will run from 7:30–9:30 p.m. ET on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+, simultaneously airing at 4:30–6:30 p.m. PT [2]. A host has not yet been announced [2].
The show is being produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with MTV veteran Van Toffler serving as lead producer. Executive producers include Jesse Ignjatovic, Barbara Bialkowski, Bruce Gillmer, Barry Barclay, and Floris Bauer, with Melanie Block as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer [2].
What to Watch
The central storyline heading into September 27 is whether Madonna's nomination dominance translates into hardware — and whether her late-career resurgence can unseat Swift, the VMAs' all-time record holder, in the night's biggest categories. Also worth tracking: whether any best new artist contender breaks through during the live vote, and how the newly restored best dance category lands with audiences after a seven-year absence.