The race for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards is officially underway, and the latest nominations have set the stage for an explosive night of pop history. Madonna leads the pack with a staggering 11 nods, keeping her legendary decades-spanning career at the absolute forefront of modern pop culture.
With fan voting now open online across 13 categories, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming ceremony and how your favorite artists stack up.
Madonna Leads, Taylor Swift Chases History
Madonna’s massive 11-nomination haul spans major categories including video, artist, and song of the year, alongside nods for direction, cinematography, and choreography. If she sweeps her categories on ceremony night, she will tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most-awarded musicians in VMA history, as both currently hold 30 competitive wins each.
Speaking of Swift, the pop megastar follows closely behind with nine nominations. If Swift takes home even a single award this year, she will officially stand alone as the most-awarded artist in VMA history.
Trailing the frontrunners are Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson secured five nominations apiece.
The Epic Video of the Year Race
The night’s most prestigious category is packed with heavy hitters. Swift’s "The Fate of Ophelia" is going head-to-head with Madonna’s "Confessions II — The Film," Grande’s "Hate That I Made You Love Me," Mars’ "I Just Might," Carpenter’s "Tear," and GENER8ION’s "Storm" featuring Yung Lean.
The 2026 ceremony also marks a major milestone for fresh talent, introducing 26 first-time nominees. Breakout acts like viral singer Stella Lefty, K-pop boy band CORTIS, and collaborative duo GENER8ION and Yung Lean are all making waves on the ballot. Meanwhile, the fan-favorite Best Dance category has officially returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.
How to Vote for the 2026 VMAs
Official fan voting began immediately following the announcement and will run across 13 distinct categories until September 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern.
For viewers looking to impact the outcome in real-time, voting for the Best New Artist category will remain active straight through the live broadcast.
The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, September 27, straight from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
