Madonna leads VMA nominations, surpassing Taylor Swift

Madonna, the reigning 'Queen of Pop,' has once again demonstrated her enduring influence by topping the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods. Taylor Swift follows closely with nine nominations, setting the stage for a significant showdown at the upcoming ceremony.

The awards show is scheduled for September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Madonna's nominations include Video of the Year for 'Confessions II: The Film,' Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year for 'Bring Your Love' featuring Sabrina Carpenter. Her project also garnered technical nominations in direction, editing, and choreography.

Taylor Swift's 'The Life Of A Showgirl' album earned her nine nominations, with key nods in Video of the Year for 'The Fate of Ophelia,' Artist of the Year, and Best Pop. Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande are tied with seven nominations each, competing in major categories like Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Pop.

Latin music is represented by Shakira, who leads the Latin category with two nominations for her collaborations 'Choka Choka' with Anitta and 'Dai Dai' with Burna Boy. Other notable Latin artists nominated include Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Rosalía. In the K-Pop category, BTS leads with 'SWIM,' alongside nominations for Blackpink and Katseye, among others.

Public voting for the awards began on August 18, 2026, via MTV's website and will conclude on September 25. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+.