Madonna, Taylor Swift Highlight MTV VMA Noms

Madonna has turned back the clock with a leading 11 nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, while Taylor Swift follows with nine, setting up another potentially historic Moon Person showdown.

Madonna’s haul includes Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, along with Best Collaboration, Dance, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography and Visual Effects. A sweep, however unlikely, would bring her to 30 competitive VMA wins, tying Beyoncé and Swift for the all-time record.

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Swift, meanwhile, is nominated for Video and Artist of the Year, plus Best Pop, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography and Visual Effects. She currently has 30 competitive Moon Persons, meaning even one win would make her the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are next with seven nominations apiece, followed by Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. BLACKPINK member LISA has four, while Shakira and Tate McRae each have three.

The top prize, Video of the Year, pits Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” Mars’ “I Just Might,” GENER8ION’s “STORM starring Yung Lean,” Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film,” Carpenter’s “Tears” and Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” into the same ring. The Artist of the Year race similarly pits Grande, Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Carpenter and Swift against one another.

The nominations also point toward a generational handoff — or at least a very crowded dance floor. Twenty-six artists are first-time nominees, including GENER8ION and Yung Lean, who each score three nods, and K pop newcomers CORTIS, who earn two. Other first-timers include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro, Stella Lefty and Tucker Wetmore.

There’s also a welcome bit of resurrection in the genre categories: Best Dance returns for the first time in seven years, with nominees including Harry Styles, Lady Gaga & Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress and McRae.

The 2026 VMAs will air live Sept. 27 from Los Angeles on CBS, with MTV and Paramount+ simulcasting the ceremony in the U.S. Fan voting is now open in 13 categories through Sept. 25, while Best New Artist voting remains open through the show.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.