Madonna has emerged as the leading nominee for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), earning 11 nominations shortly after celebrating her 68th birthday.
The Queen of Pop has also made VMA history by receiving nominations in every decade of her music career, according to a recent news report.
With 19 competitive VMA wins to her name, Madonna was also the first female solo artiste to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
This year, she is nominated in several of the ceremony’s biggest categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Her other nominations span Collaboration, Dance, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography and Visual Effects, all for her latest album, ‘Confessions II’.
A clean sweep could bring Madonna level with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s record of 30 VMA victories, potentially placing her among the most successful artistes in the awards’ history.
Swift follows Madonna with nine nominations and could become the winningest VMA artiste of all time if she takes home at least one trophy. She is nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, as well as Pop, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography and Visual Effects.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson secured five apiece.
BlackPink’s LISA received four nominations, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean each earned three.
In the coveted Video of the Year category, Swift’s ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ will compete against Madonna’s ‘Confessions II — The Film’, Grande’s ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’, Mars’ ‘I Just Might’, Carpenter’s ‘Tear’, and GENER8ION and Yung Lean’s ‘Storm’.
The 2026 VMA nominations also mark a breakthrough for 26 first-time nominees, including K-pop boy group CORTIS, viral singer Stella Lefty, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.
The Best Dance category is also returning after a seven-year absence. Its nominees include McRae’s ‘Nobody’s Girl’, Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ ‘New Religion’, Harry Styles’ ‘Aperture’, Lady Gaga and Doechii’s ‘Runway’, and Madonna’s ‘Confessions II — The Film’.
The 2026 VMA ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27 and broadcast live on CBS, MTV and Paramount+. Fan voting for 13 categories opened on August 18 and closes on September 25, while voting for Best New Artist will remain open throughout the ceremony.
