Madonna makes history taking lead over Taylor Swift in MTV VMAs 2026 nominations
Madonna makes history taking lead over Taylor Swift in MTV VMAs 2026 nominations
MARIA SHERMAN & Hollie BealeTue, August 18, 2026 at 1:39 PM UTC
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Madonna has beat Taylor Swift in MTV VMAs nominations -Credit:Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Madonna leads the pack in nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced on Tuesday.
The pop icon has earned nominations in every decade of her storied career. With 19 competitive MTV VMA victories to her name, she also made history in 1986 as the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
This year, she is in contention for 11 awards, including video, artist, and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects.
A clean sweep would see her draw level with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift as the most-awarded musician in VMA history, both of whom hold 30 wins. (Eminem holds the record among male artists, with 15.)
Swift comes in close behind Madonna with nine nominations. Should she claim even a single award, she will clinch the title of most-awarded artist in VMA history.
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Swift is in the running for video and artist of the year, along with best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter follow with seven nominations apiece, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson each earn five nods. Blackpink's LISA picks up four, and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean are tied at three.
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Rounding out the artist of the year category are Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen, alongside Madonna and Swift.
The evening's highest honor, video of the year, pits Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" 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's "Storm" featuring Yung Lean.
The two-hour ceremony will air live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Madonna beat Taylor Swift with the most nominations -Credit:Getty
It will simultaneously broadcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
The show will launch globally on Paramount+ and MTV the following day.
CBS hosts several major award ceremonies, including the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. The network has televised the Grammys since 1973, although that program will move to ABC in 2027.
This year's Video Music Awards includes 26 debut nominees, among them GENER8ION and Yung Lean (earning three nominations for their "Storm" collaboration) and K-pop group CORTIS and viral "Boston" singer Stella Lefty with two apiece. Additional noteworthy first-time contenders include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore, and Sienna Spiro.
The best dance category makes its comeback after a seven-year absence. Contenders include McRae's "Nobody's Girl," Bebe Rexha and Faithless' "New Religion," Harry Styles' "Aperture," Lady Gaga and Doechii's "Runway," Madonna's "Confessions II - The Film," PinkPantheress' "Stateside" with Larsson and Slayyyter's "Dance ..."
Online fan voting kicked off Tuesday across 13 categories and closes Sept. 25 at 6 p. m. Eastern and 3 p. m. Pacific.
Votes for best new artist will continue to be accepted throughout the live show.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
