Day: August 19, 2026

Madonna and Taylor Swift lead the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards field after receiving 11 and nine nominations, respectively. The Sept. 27 ceremony carries added significance because Swift enters tied with Beyoncé at 30 career VMA wins. The nominations also place both artists in several of the night’s most closely watched categories.

Key Takeaways

• Madonna leads the 2026 VMA nominations with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows with nine.
• Swift enters the ceremony tied with Beyoncé at 30 career VMA wins.
• Madonna and Swift are both nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year.
• The VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27, with voting in 13 fan categories closing Sept. 25.

Madonna and Taylor Swift hold the two largest nomination totals heading into the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, creating separate record implications for two artists with extensive histories at the ceremony.

MTV announced the nominations on Aug. 18. Madonna leads the field with 11, followed by Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are next with seven nominations each.

The most immediate record possibility belongs to Swift. She enters the ceremony tied with Beyoncé at 30 career VMA wins. One victory on Sept. 27 would move Swift ahead of that total.

Madonna enters from a different position. The Associated Press counts 19 competitive VMA wins in her career and separately notes her 1986 Video Vanguard Award. A sweep of her 11 competitive categories this year would bring her to 30 competitive wins.

Madonna’s 11 Nominations Set the 2026 VMA Pace

Madonna’s nominations extend across major awards and several categories recognizing video production. She is nominated for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, as well as Best Collaboration, Best Dance, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.

“Confessions II – The Film” represents Madonna in Video of the Year. Her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love,” is nominated for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration.

The 2026 showing also adds another chapter to Madonna’s MTV history. She performed “Like a Virgin” at the inaugural VMAs in 1984 and received the Video Vanguard Award two years later.

AP reports that Madonna has now received VMA nominations in every decade of her musical career. Her 2026 total is notable not only because she leads the field, but because her nominations span artist-level awards, collaboration, dance and technical categories.

The Video of the Year race puts “Confessions II – The Film” against entries from several other heavily nominated performers, including Swift, Grande, Bruno Mars and Carpenter.

Taylor Swift Enters One Win From a VMA Record

Taylor Swift’s nine nominations give the ceremony its clearest potential record change.

Swift and Beyoncé are tied at 30 career VMA wins. A single victory this year would give Swift 31, placing her alone at the top of the career total.

Swift is nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, along with Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.

Her Video of the Year entry, “The Fate of Ophelia,” faces Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film,” Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tear” and GENER8ION’s “Storm” starring Yung Lean.

Swift’s broader 2026 visual output has also included a separate Taylor Swift music video connected to “Elizabeth Taylor.” That release is separate from the VMA-nominated “The Fate of Ophelia,” but adds context to her visual work during the year.

The record implications mean Swift does not need to overtake Madonna’s nomination count to change VMA history. Any one of her nine categories could move her beyond the existing 30-win mark.

The September Ceremony Features a Wider Field

The 2026 nominations extend well beyond Madonna and Taylor Swift. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter received seven nominations each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five apiece, while LISA earned four.

Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean each received three nominations.

Artist of the Year includes Madonna, Swift, Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen. Video of the Year similarly concentrates several of the year’s most-nominated performers into one category.

The ceremony also includes 26 first-time VMA nominees. AP identified GENER8ION, Yung Lean, CORTIS, Stella Lefty, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro among those receiving their first nominations.

Best Dance is returning after a seven-year absence, with Madonna among the nominees alongside Tate McRae, Bebe Rexha and Faithless, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Doechii, PinkPantheress with Zara Larsson, and Slayyyter.

The two-hour ceremony will air live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE on Sunday, Sept. 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific. CBS will broadcast the show, MTV will simulcast it and Paramount+ will stream it live in the United States.

Fan voting is open in 13 categories through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern. Voting for Best New Artist will remain open during the ceremony.

For Madonna and Taylor Swift, the final results carry two distinct measures. Madonna enters with the largest nomination total of 2026, while Swift enters one award away from establishing a new career VMA wins total. The Sept. 27 results will determine whether either record scenario becomes part of the ceremony’s history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who leads the 2026 MTV VMA nominations?

Madonna leads the 2026 MTV VMA nominations with 11 nominations. Taylor Swift follows with nine, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have seven.

How close is Taylor Swift to the VMA wins record?

Taylor Swift is tied with Beyoncé at 30 career VMA wins. One victory at the 2026 ceremony would move Swift ahead with 31.

Which categories include Madonna and Taylor Swift?

Madonna and Taylor Swift are both nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. Their Video of the Year entries are “Confessions II – The Film” and “The Fate of Ophelia,” respectively.

When are the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards?

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream live on Paramount+ in the United States.

Why are the 2026 nominations significant for Madonna and Taylor Swift?

Madonna and Taylor Swift enter the ceremony with the two highest nomination totals. Madonna leads with 11, while Swift’s nine opportunities give her multiple chances to move beyond the current 30-win career VMA record.