Madonna leads 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with 11 contenders
The pop icon, who pioneered the VMA in 1986, is competing against Taylor Swift (9 nominations) and others across 26 award categories as the ceremony heads to Los Angeles on September 27.
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Madonna dominates the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nominations, cementing her legacy as the ceremony's defining figure across four decades of pop music.
The pop icon has been nominated at the VMAs during each decade of her career and holds 19 VMA wins. She became the first female solo artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986, helping establish the show's identity.
This year, Madonna is competing in major categories: video of the year, artist of the year, and song of the year, alongside technical awards for best collaboration, best dance video, best direction, best art direction, best cinematography, best editing, best choreography, and best visual effects. If she won all 11, she would tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history — each holds 30 trophies. Eminem is the top male winner with 15.
Taylor Swift, with 9 nominations, sits in second place. Her track record means a single win would make her the most decorated artist in VMA history. Swift is also competing across major and technical categories, with her video "The Fate of Ophelia" in the running for video of the year.
The competition features several other strong contenders. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have 7 nominations. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson each hold 5 nominations. LISA from Blackpink has 4, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean are tied with 3 nominations each.
The video of the year category includes Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," Madonna's "Confessions II – The Film," Grande's "Hate That I Made You Love Me," Bruno Mars's "I Just Might," Sabrina Carpenter's "Tear," and GENER8ION with Yung Lean's "Storm."
The 2026 edition marks a milestone for emerging artists: 26 first-time nominees are competing. Among them are GENER8ION and Yung Lean, K-pop group CORTIS, and singer Stella Lefty, whose viral track "Boston" earned her two nominations. Other debut nominees include Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore, and Sienna Spiro.
The best video of dance category returns for the first time in seven years, with nominees including Tate McRae's "Nobody's Girl," Bebe Rexha and Faithless's "New Religion," and others. The two-hour ceremony airs live on CBS Sunday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with simultaneous streaming on MTV and Paramount+ in the United States. The show will become available worldwide on Paramount+ and MTV starting Monday, September 28.
By the numbers
How many nominations does Madonna have at the 2026 VMAs?
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nominations across major and technical categories.
How many VMA wins would Madonna need to tie the all-time record?
If Madonna won all 11 of her nominations at the 2026 VMAs, she would tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who each hold 30 VMA wins, for the most in history.
When and where is the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony airs live on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
How many first-time nominees are competing at the 2026 VMAs?
The 2026 edition features 26 first-time nominees competing, including GENER8ION, Yung Lean, K-pop group CORTIS, and singer Stella Lefty.
