It’s time to learn the fate of Ophelia the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Ahead of music’s most iconic night, airing live Sept. 27 on CBS, Madonna and Taylor Swift are taking center stage as the leaders of this year’s nominees, which were announced Aug. 18.
The “Like A Virgin” singer leads the pack with 11 nominations for her Confessions II album, including for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. For her part, Swift—who earned nine total nominations—will face off against Madonna in those same categories.
Ariana Grande and Madonna’s “Bring Your Love” collaborator Sabrina Carpenter will also be part of the house tour, as they trail closely behind their fellow pop legends with seven nominations each, including for Best Pop.
Meanwhile, Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson are stateside with five nominations each, while Blackpink’s LISA earned four and Shakira tied with Tate McRae with three total nominations.
This year’s VMAs could prove to be a historic night if Swift wins another Moon Person, as she’s currently tied with Beyoncé for most wins ever at 30. However, a crop of artists are vying for their first-ever Moon Person, with first-time nominees including Sienna Spiro, GENER8ION, CORTIS and Stella Lefty, who are all also nominated for Best New Artist.
Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan and Olivia Dean are also competing for their first award.
The VMAs are already breaking records, though, with the return of the Best Dance category for the first time in seven years, which will see Madonna, McRae, PinkPantheress and Larsson battle it out against Harry Styles, Bebe Rexha and Slayyyter, as well as Lady Gaga and Doechii for their collab “RUNWAY” for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The MTV VMAs will air live on CBS and MTV on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans can vote for 13 of the categories at vote.mtv.com through Sept. 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET. The Best New Artist category, presented by The General Insurance ®, will remain active into the live broadcast.
Read on to check out all of the nominees for the 2026 MTV VMAs.
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, presented by The General Insurance®
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, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum
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 - “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
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
Keep reading to revisit the 2025 VMAs red carpet.
Lady Gaga
In Marc Jacobs.
Sabrina Carpenter
In custom Valentino.
Ariana Grande
In custom Fendi and Swarovski jewelry.
Jessica Simpson
In Christian Siriano.
Doja Cat
In Balmain.
Ice Spice
In Ralph Lauren.
Paris Hilton
In The Blonds.
FKA twigs
Conan Gray
In Erik Charlotte.
GloRilla
In Helen Anthony.
Lenny Kravitz
In Saint Laurent.
Ciara
In Schiaparelli.
Taylor Momsen
Alix Earle
In Tom Ford.
Tyla
In vintage Chanel.
Ricky Martin
Tate McRae
In custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Nicky Hilton
Yungblud
Ashlee Simpson
Malin Akerman
Brittany Snow
Summer Walker
With a Simitri bag.
Megan Moroney
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino & Lauren Sorrentino
Sexxy Red
Nikki Glaser
In Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
KATSEYE
In Dolce & Gabbana.
Ty Dolla $ign