Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMAs Nominations With 11 Nods
The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced.
Madonna received the most nominations, with 11.
Taylor Swift received nine, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter received seven each.
Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each received five nominations.
The awards show will be held on September 27 in Los Angeles.
It will be shown on CBS, streamed on Paramount+ and simulcast on MTV.
Madonna and five other artists are competing for Artist of the Year.
Six videos are competing for Video of the Year, although the articles spell Sabrina Carpenter’s nominated video title differently as “Tear” and “Tears.”
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV VMAs nominations with 11 nods, including Video of the Year and Artist of the Year.
Taylor Swift has nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each.
Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five nominations apiece; Blackpink’s LISA received four.
The ceremony is scheduled for September 27 at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater and will air on CBS, stream on Paramount+ and simulcast on MTV.
Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars and Morgan Wallen are nominated for Artist of the Year.
- Who
- Madonna leads the nominees, followed by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter; six artists are nominated for Artist of the Year.
- What
- The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were announced.
- When
- The nominations were announced August 19; the ceremony is scheduled for September 27, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Where
- The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
- Why
- The nominations identify the artists and videos competing for awards at the 2026 VMAs.
- Leading nominee
- Madonna, with 11 nominations
- Second-highest nominee
- Taylor Swift, with nine nominations
- Seven-nomination artists
- Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter
- Artist of the Year nominees
- Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars and Morgan Wallen
- Ceremony date and venue
- September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles
- Broadcast and streaming
- CBS, Paramount+ and MTV; the show is scheduled to run for two hours
- Host and voting
- The host has not been announced; fan voting is scheduled to continue through September 25
