LOS ANGELES, US — Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods, putting the pop icon ahead of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter in the race for this year’s major honours. Swift has nine nominations, while Grande and Carpenter have seven each, according to Variety.
Key Highlights
- Madonna tops the 2026 VMAs nominations with 11 nods.
- Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each.
- The 2026 VMAs will return to Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre on September 27.
- The Best Dance category is returning after a seven-year absence.
Madonna leads the 2026 VMAs nominations
Madonna’s 11 nominations make her the most nominated artist for the 2026 ceremony. Taylor Swift is next with nine, while Grande and Carpenter have seven nominations apiece.
Bruno Mars, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress each collected five nominations. Blackpink’s Lisa received four, while Tate McRae and Shakira were nominated in three categories each.
Artist of the Year race features major pop names
The Artist of the Year category includes Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars and Morgan Wallen. The nominations place several of the biggest names in contemporary pop music in direct competition for one of the ceremony’s leading awards.
The Video of the Year field includes Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film”, Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia”, Carpenter’s “Tears”, Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me”, Mars’ “I Just Might” and Gener8ion’s “Storm Starring Yung Lean”.
2026 VMAs return to Los Angeles
The awards ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27. The event marks the show’s return to the West Coast after nine years.
The VMAs were last broadcast from Los Angeles in 2017, when Katy Perry hosted the ceremony. The host for the 2026 edition has not yet been announced.
Best Dance category makes a comeback
One of the notable changes for this year’s ceremony is the return of the Best Dance category. The award is being restored after a seven-year absence.
Madonna has yet to win the category, which was first introduced in 1989. Her leading position in the overall nominations adds further interest to her prospects at this year’s ceremony.
Who is producing the 2026 VMAs?
The 2026 VMAs are being produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with MTV veteran Van Toffler serving as lead producer. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski, Bruce Gillmer, Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer are executive producers, according to Variety.
Melanie Block is serving as co-executive producer, while Gary Lanvy is the co-producer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2026 MTV VMAs take place?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Who received the most 2026 VMAs nominations?
Madonna leads the nominations with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have seven.
What happens next?
The focus now shifts to the September 27 ceremony, where the nominees will compete across the announced categories. The host of the 2026 VMAs is yet to be revealed.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
