Mtv Video Music Awards: here are all the nominations. Geese and Charli XCX also in the running

Madonna and Taylor Swift dominate the nominations for the 2026 Mtv Video Music Awards. The popstar behind “Confessions II” is the most nominated artist of this edition with eleven nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Close behind are Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, both tied at seven, while Bruno Mars picks up six.

The 2026 VMA ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on September 27 and hosted by Snoop Dogg. Among the most anticipated moments of the night will be a tribute to Nirvana, who will receive the Video Vanguard Award, the honor given to artists and directors who have left a particularly significant mark on the art of the music video. Over the previous four editions, the award went to Mariah Carey in 2025, Katy Perry in 2024, Shakira in 2023 and Nicki Minaj in 2022.
Among the notable changes to this edition is the absence of several categories featured in the past. Missing this year are “Best Rock”, “Best Afrobeats”, “Best Pop Artist”, “Push Performance of the Year”, “Best Album”, “Video for Good”, “Best Long-form Video”, “Best Group” and “Song of the Summer”.

Here are all the nominations for the 2026 Mtv Video Music Awards across the various categories:

“Video of the Year”
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – Tears
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Artist of the Year”
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

“Song of the Year”
BTS – Swim
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Huntr/x – Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Raye – Where Is My Husband!

“Best New Artist”
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty

“Best Collaboration”
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T & Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana & Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part

“Best Pop”
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Charli XCX – SS26
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream
Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Best Hip-Hop”
Cardi B & Kehlani – Safe
Don Toliver – E85
Drake – Janice STFU
Megan Thee Stallion – Lover Girl
Travis Scott – Dumbo
Tyler, the Creator – Sugar on My Tongue

“Best R&B”
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – Yukon
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime

“Best Alternative”
Geese – Taxes
MGK & Fred Durst – Fix Ur Face
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
Olivia Rodrigo – The Cure
Sombr – Homewrecker
Tame Impala – Dracula
Twenty One Pilots – Drag Path

“Best Dance”
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Slayyyter – Dance…
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

“Best Latin”
Anitta & Shakira – Choka Choka
Bad Bunny – Nuevayol
Fuerza Regida – Tu Sancho
Karol G – Papasito
Rosalía & Yahritza y Su Esencia – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta – La Villa
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

“Best K-Pop”
Blackpink – Jump
BTS – Swim
Cortis – RedRed
Katseye – Pinky Up
Le Sserafim & J-Hope of BTS – Spaghetti
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream

“Best Country”
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo
Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tucker Wetmore – Brunette

“Best Direction”
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – Opalite

“Best Art Direction”
Charli XCX – SS26
Lady Gaga & Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Sombr – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Best Cinematography”
A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Best Editing”
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Best Choreography”
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean
Harry Styles – Dance No More
Katseye – Pinky Up
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

“Best Visual Effects”
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Jisoo & Zayn – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – Stateside
Raye & Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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