NEW YORK — Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations, the community introduced Tuesday, Aug. 18.
The pop celebrity has been nominated in each decade of her musical profession. She has 19 aggressive MTV VMA wins and in 1986 grew to become the primary solo feminine artist to obtain the Video Vanguard Award.
She is up for 11 awards at this yr’s ceremony, together with video, artist and music of the yr in addition to finest collaboration, dance, route, artwork route, cinematography, enhancing, choreography and visible results.
If she had been to brush, she’d tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA historical past. They’ve 30 every. (Eminem is the male artist with probably the most VMAs, with 15.)
Talking of Swift: She follows Madonna with the second-most nominations, with 9. If she takes dwelling even one award, she’s going to grow to be the most-awarded artist in VMA historical past.
Swift is up for video and artist of the yr in addition to finest pop, route, artwork route, cinematography, enhancing, choreography and visible results.
Madonna and Swift are adopted by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods to their identify in addition to Bruno Mars, Pink Pantheress and Zara Larsson with 5. Blackpink’s LISA has 4 and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for 3.
Rounding out the artist of the yr class nominees are Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen, along with Madonna and Swift.
The highest prize of the evening, video of the yr, sees Swift’s “The Destiny of Ophelia” compete towards Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Movie,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Simply May,” Carpenter’s “Tear” and GENER8ION’s “Storm” starring Yung Lean.
The 2-hour present will broadcast stay on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Japanese and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It would additionally simulcast on MTV and be out there to stream on Paramount+ within the US.
The present will grow to be out there to stream globally the following day on Paramount+ and MTV.
CBS is dwelling to quite a few award exhibits, together with the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. It has aired the Grammys since 1973, although that present will head to ABC in 2027.
This yr’s Video Music Awards options 26 first-time nominees, which embody GENER8ION and Yung Lean (with their aforementioned three nods, for his or her “Storm” collaboration) and the Okay-pop boy band CORTIS and viral “Boston” singer Stella Lefty with two every. Different notable first-time nominees embody Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.
The very best dance class has returned for the primary time in seven years. Nominees embody McRae’s “No person’s Lady,” Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ “New Faith,” Harry Kinds’ “Aperture,” Woman Gaga and Doechii’s “Runway,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Movie,” PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” with Larsson and Slayyyter’s “Dance …”
Fan voting started on-line Tuesday throughout 13 classes and ends Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Japanese and three p.m. Pacific.
Voting in the most effective new artist class will stay energetic through the present.