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NOMINATIONS REVEALED FOR "2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS" ("VMAs"), AIRING LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES, SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 ON CBS
Madonna and Taylor Swift Lead Nominations
Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, GENER8ION, LISA, PinkPantheress, Sabrina Carpenter and Shakira Among Top Contenders
CORTIS, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro and Yung Lean Among 26 First-Time Nominees; "Best Dance" Category Returns
Watch Nomination Categories on "CBS Mornings" Here
· The highly anticipated list of nominees for the 2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ("VMAs") was announced today, recognizing artists whose work during the last 12 months has pioneered the music industry and been the catalysts of global buzz. The "VMAs" will broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 (7:30-9:30 PM, ET/4:30-6:30 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+* in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
· Fan voting is now open for 13 categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Sept. 25 at 6:00 PM, ET, except Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance(R), which remains active into show.
o Get double the votes per category every day during Power Hour presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum, running daily 1:00-2:00 PM, ET from Aug. 20 through Sept. 24.
NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS
· Madonna (11) leads this year's nominees, looking to add to her 19 competitive "VMAs" wins.
· Taylor Swift (9) vies to add to her 30 Moon Persons.
· Other top contenders include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter (7 each), Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson (5 each), LISA (4), and Shakira and Tate McRae (3 each).
· First-time nominees receiving multiple nods include GENER8ION and Yung Lean (3 each), and CORTIS and Stella Lefty (2 each). Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro and Tucker Wetmore are among those competing for their first Moon Person.
· The Best Dance category returns for the first time in seven years, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum.
About the 2026 "VMAs"
· Production Credits: The "VMAs" are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van Toffler serves as producer. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers, alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block serves as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer.
· Official Sponsors: BACARDÍ(R) Rum, Dunkin'(R), The General Insurance(R), Gillette Venus, Tide(R) evo and Under Armour.
2026 "VMAs" Nominees:
Nominees in each category are listed in alphabetical order by first name.
(**) = Returning Category
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(R)
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(R) Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless - "New Religion" - Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles - "Aperture" - Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii - "RUNWAY" - 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 - "RUNWAY" - 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
NOMINEES IN NUMERICAL ORDER
(**) = First-time nominee
Madonna (11)
Video of the Year - "Confessions II - The Film"
Artist of the Year
Song of the Year - "Bring Your Love"
Best Collaboration - "Bring Your Love"
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Direction - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Art Direction - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Cinematography - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Editing - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Choreography - "Confessions II - The Film"
Best Visual Effects - "Confessions II - The Film"
Taylor Swift (9)
Video of the Year - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Artist of the Year
Best Pop - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Best Direction - "Opalite"
Best Art Direction - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Best Cinematography - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Best Editing - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Best Choreography - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Best Visual Effects - "The Fate of Ophelia"
Ariana Grande (7)
Video of the Year - "hate that i made you love me"
Artist of the Year
Best Pop - "hate that i made you love me"
Best Direction - "hate that i made you love me"
Best Cinematography - "hate that i made you love me"
Best Editing - "hate that i made you love me"
Best Visual Effects - "hate that i made you love me"
Sabrina Carpenter (7)
Video of the Year - "Tears"
Artist of the Year
Song of the Year - "Bring Your Love"
Best Pop - "House Tour"
Best Collaboration - "Bring Your Love"
Best Direction - "House Tour"
Best Editing - "House Tour"
Bruno Mars (5)
Video of the Year - "I Just Might"
Artist of the Year
Best R&B - "I Just Might"
Best Direction - "I Just Might"
Best Editing - "I Just Might"
PinkPantheress (5)
Song of the Year - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Collaboration - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Art Direction - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Visual Effects - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Zara Larsson (5)
Song of the Year - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Collaboration - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Art Direction - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best Visual Effects - "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
LISA (4)
Best Pop - "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi"
Best K-Pop - "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi"
Best Cinematography - "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi"
Best Editing - "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi"
**GENER8ION (3)
Video of the Year - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Best Direction - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Best Choreography - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Shakira (3)
Best Collaboration - "Dai Dai"
Best Latin - "Choka Choka"
Best Latin - "Dai Dai"
Tate McRae (3)
Best Pop - "Nobody's Girl"
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "Nobody's Girl"
Best Choreography - "Nobody's Girl"
**Yung Lean (3)
Video of the Year - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Best Direction - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Best Choreography - "STORM starring Yung Lean"
BTS (2)
Song of the Year - "SWIM"
Best K-Pop - "SWIM"
Burna Boy (2)
Best Collaboration - "Dai Dai"
Best Latin - "Dai Dai"
Charli xcx (2)
Best Pop - "SS26"
Best Art Direction - "SS26"
**CORTIS (2)
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance(R)
Best K-Pop - "REDRED"
Doechii (2)
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "RUNWAY"
Best Art Direction - "RUNWAY"
Ella Langley (2)
Song of the Year - "Choosin' Texas"
Best Country - "Choosin' Texas"
Harry Styles (2)
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "Aperture"
Best Choreography - "Dance No More"
KATSEYE (2)
Best K-Pop - "PINKY UP"
Best Choreography - "PINKY UP"
Kehlani (2)
Best Hip-Hop - "Safe" with Cardi B
Best R&B - "Folded"
Lady Gaga (2)
Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ(R) Rum - "RUNWAY"
Best Art Direction - "RUNWAY"
Olivia Rodrigo (2)
Best Pop - "drop dead"
Best Alternative - "the cure"
RAYE (2)
Song of the Year - "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!"
Best Visual Effects - "Click Clack Symphony."
Shaboozey (2)
Best Country - "Cowgirl"
Best Cinematography - "Cowgirl"
SOMBR (2)
Best Alternative - "Homewrecker"
Best Art Direction - "My Body Isn't Ready"
**Stella Lefty (2)
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance(R)
Best Country - "Boston"
*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
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