MADONNA LEADS 2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS WITH 11, FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR SWIFT WITH 9.(PHOTO).

 Madonna leads 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with 11, followed by Taylor Swift with 9

   

Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods, continuing a record-setting run that has spanned every decade of her music career.

The pop icon is nominated for video, artist and song of the year, along with best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects. Madonna has 19 competitive VMA wins and became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.

A clean sweep this year would give Madonna 30 competitive VMA wins, matching Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most in the history of the awards. Eminem holds the record among male artists with 15 wins.

Swift is second in this year’s nominations with nine. She is competing for video and artist of the year, as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects. Winning at least one award would make Swift the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson earned five apiece. Blackpink’s LISA received four nominations, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean each received three.

The artist of the year category features Madonna, Swift, Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen.

The nominees for video of the year include Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Just Might,” Carpenter’s “Tear” and GENER8ION’s “Storm,” featuring Yung Lean.

The two-hour ceremony is scheduled to air live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will also air simultaneously on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the United States. International streaming will begin the following day on Paramount+ and MTV.

This year’s ceremony includes 26 first-time nominees. Among them are GENER8ION and Yung Lean, CORTIS, Stella Lefty, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.

The best dance category is also returning for the first time in seven years. Nominees include McRae’s “Nobody’s Girl,” Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ “New Religion,” Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii’s “Runway,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” featuring Zara Larsson and Slayyyter’s “Dance …”

Fan voting is underway in 13 categories and will remain open until Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific. Voting for best new artist will continue throughout the ceremony.