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 categoriesby visiting vote.mtv.com through Sept. 25 at 6:00 PM, ET, except Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance®, which remains active into show.

  • Get double the votes per category every day during Power Hour presented by BACARDÍ® 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® 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® Rum, Dunkin'®, The General Insurance®, Gillette Venus, Tide® evo and Under Armour.

• Press Credentials: Application here.

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®

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 - "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® 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® 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® 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® 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®

Best K-Pop - "REDRED"

Doechii (2)

Best Dance, presented by BACARDÍ® 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® 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® 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®

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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CBS Press Contacts:

Kate Fisher: [email protected]

Mallory Mason: [email protected]

VMAs Press Contact:

Triple 7 PR: [email protected]