The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have taken place at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre, with Madonna returning to the VMAs stage for the first time in 23 years and Taylor Swift receiving the inaugural VMA Artist Director Honours.
Madonna performed with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx. The pop star, who is nominated in 13 categories, last appeared at the ceremony in 2003, when she performed with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Swift’s honour marks her 31st VMA win, taking her past Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in the history of the awards. She received nine nominations this year and is competing against Madonna in seven categories.
2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi won Best Pop for Dream. The other nominees were Ariana Grande for Hate That I Made You Love Me, Charli xcx for SS26, Olivia Rodrigo for Drop Dead, Sabrina Carpenter for House Tour, Tate McRae for Nobody’s Girl and Taylor Swift for The Fate of Ophelia.
The Video of the Year nominees were Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift.
Grande, Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Carpenter, Swift and Teyana Taylor were nominated for Artist of the Year.
Song of the Year included nominations for BTS with Swim, Ella Langley with Choosin’ Texas, Huntr/X with Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami for Golden, Madonna and Carpenter for Bring Your Love, Olivia Dean for Man I Need, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for Stateside and Raye for Where Is My Husband!
The Best New Artist nominees were Bella Kay, Cortis, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty.
Best Collaboration featured Clipse with Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice; French Montana with Max B; Madonna and Carpenter; PinkPantheress with Zara Larsson; Shakira with Burna Boy; and Teyana Taylor Campbell with Lucky Daye.
The Best Hip-Hop nominees were Cardi B featuring Kehlani, Don Toliver, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott and Tyler, the Creator. Best R&B included Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Dave and Tems, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Mariah the Scientist with Kali Uchis.
In Best Alternative, the nominees were Geese, MGK and Fred Durst, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, Sombr, Tame Impala and Twenty One Pilots. Tame Impala was the only Australian act nominated at this year’s ceremony, receiving recognition for Dracula.
Best Dance included Bebe Rexha and Faithless, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and Doechii, PinkPantheress with Zara Larsson, Slayyyter, and Tate McRae.
The Best Latin nominees were Anitta with Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, Karol G, Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, Ryan Castro with Kapo and Gangsta, and Shakira with Burna Boy.
Blackpink, BTS, Cortis, Katseye, Le Sserafim featuring J-Hope of BTS, and Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi were nominated for Best K-Pop.
Best Country featured Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Stella Lefty and Tucker Wetmore.
Creative categories and album nominations
The nominees for Best Direction were Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift. Best Art Direction included Charli xcx, Lady Gaga and Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress with Zara Larsson, Sombr and Swift.
Ariana Grande, A$AP Rocky, Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi, Madonna, Shaboozey and Taylor Swift were nominated for Best Cinematography.
Best Editing featured Grande, Bruno Mars, Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi, Madonna, Carpenter and Swift. The Best Choreography nominees were Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean, Harry Styles, Katseye, Madonna, Tate McRae and Swift.
The Best Visual Effects nominees were Grande, Jisoo with Zayn, Madonna, PinkPantheress with Zara Larsson, Raye featuring Hans Zimmer, and Swift.
Blackpink, BTS, Cortis, Fuerza Regida, Geese, Katseye and Twenty One Pilots were nominated for Best Group.
Best Long Form Video included Charli xcx, Ella Langley, Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean and Madonna.
The nominees for Best Album were Drake for Iceman, Madonna for Confessions II, Olivia Dean for The Art of Loving, Olivia Rodrigo for You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, Sabrina Carpenter for Man’s Best Friend and Taylor Swift for The Life of a Showgirl.
The Song of the Summer category featured Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Charli xcx, Ella Langley, Katseye, Latto featuring Doja Cat, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Slayyyter, Sombr, Stella Lefty, Tame Impala with Jennie and Taylor Swift.
