Madonna, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter lead VMA nominations

The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced, with Madonna leading with 11 nods.

Taylor Swift follows with nine, then Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, with seven each.

Others with multiple nominations include Bruno Mars, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress, with five nominations each. Blackpink’s Lisa holds four, and Tate McRae and Shakira each have three.

Madonna is recognised in categories such as video, artist and song of the year, best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction and cinematography.

The pop artist has earned 19 competitive MTV VMA wins throughout her career, as well as several number one singles and albums and seven Grammy Awards. She is the only artist to receive a VMA nomination in each of the ceremony’s five decades.

Swift is nominated in categories such as artist of the year, and her single ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ was recognised for video of the year and best pop, among others.

Grande has also received nods in categories like artist of the year, best pop, cinematography, direction, editing and visual effects. This comes just weeks after she announced she will step back from public life after her current tour ends.

Carpenter will compete for titles such as artist and video of the year, best pop, best direction and best editing. ‘Bring Your Love’, her collaboration with Madonna, has been nominated for song of the year and best collaboration.

Morgan Wallen also joins the competition for artist of the year, which is between Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter and Mars.

The VMAs will take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27. The two-hour show will be broadcast live on MTV and streamed on Paramount Plus.