The field is set for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earned seven nominations apiece.  The ceremony will also celebrate some of music’s bi ggest icons. Nirvana will receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, while Taylor Swift will be honored with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors and is expected to premiere the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the show. The event also features a star-studded lineup of presenters, from actors to singers. The MTV Video Music Awards will air live on CBS and MTV on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT from Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg will host the show, which will open with Madonna’s first VMA performance in 23 years. See the complete list of nominees and presenters below.  Video of the Year Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Artist of the Year Ariana Grande Bruno Mars Madonna Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Song of the Year BTS, “Swim” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Huntr/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, “Golden” Madonna Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Raye, “Where Is My Husband!” Best New Artist Bella Kay Cortis Magnus Ferrell Malcolm Todd Myles Smith Sienna Spiro Stella Lefty Best Collaboration Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains Whips” French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” Madonna Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Shakira Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” Teyana Taylor Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” Best Pop Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Charli xcx, “SS26” LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Olivia Rodrigo, “Drop Dead” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Hip-Hop Cardi B feat. Kehlani, “Safe” Don Toliver, “E85” Drake, “Janice STFU” Megan Thee Stallion, “Lover Girl” Travis Scott, “Dumbo” Tyler, the Creator, “Sugar on My Tongue” Best RB Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” Dave Tems, “Raindance” Justin Bieber, “Yukon” Kehlani, “Folded” Mariah the Scientist Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” Best Alternative Geese, “Taxes” MGK Fred Durst, “Fix Ur Face” Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” Olivia Rodrigo, “The Cure” Sombr, “Homewrecker” Tame Impala, “Dracula” Twenty One Pilots, “Drag Path” Best Dance Bebe Rexha Faithless, “New Religion” Harry Styles, “Aperture” Lady Gaga Doechii, “Runway” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Slayyyter, “Dance…” Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” Best Latin Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol” Fuerza Regida, “Tu Sancho” Karol G, “Papasito” Rosalía feat. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” Ryan Castro, Kapo Gangsta, “La Villa” Shakira Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” Best K-Pop Blackpink, “Jump” BTS, “Swim” Cortis, “Redred” Katseye, “Pinky Up” Le Sserafim (feat. J-Hope of BTS), “Spaghetti” LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Best Country Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” Stella Lefty, “Boston” Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette” Best Direction Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Taylor Swift, “Opalite” Best Art Direction Charli xcx, “SS26” Lady Gaga Doechii, “Runway” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Sombr, “My Body Isn’t Ready” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Cinematography A$AP Rocky, “Punk Rocky” Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Editing Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Choreography Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Harry Styles, “Dance No More” Katseye, “Pinky Up” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Visual Effects Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Jisoo x Zayn, “Eyes Closed” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Group Blackpink BTS Cortis Fuerza Regida Geese Katseye Twenty One Pilots Best Long Form Video Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Best Album Drake, Iceman Madonna, Confessions II Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl Song of the Summer Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “Risk It All” Charli xcx, “Camera” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Katseye, “Hootie Frutti” Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy” Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now” Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$” Sombr, “Homewrecker” Stella Lefty, “Boston” Tame Impala and Jennie, “Dracula” Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You” Presenters The VMAs presenters include: Alex Warren Belmont Cameli Brandon Sklenar Charli xcx Ciara Miller David Corenswet Ella Bright Isabel May Jeff Probst Rachel Dratch Teyana Taylor Troye Sivan Tyla ...read more read less