The date is set for the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. When? On September 27, 2026, MTV will bring one of the most anticipated shows of the year to the West Coast: the 2026 Video Music Awards. And who will take home the awards at this highly anticipated event? We don’t know yet, but we can get a sense of it by looking at the nominations just revealed by MTV. Leading the pack with 11 nominations is none other than Madonna, making her comeback with *Confessions II*, followed by Taylor Swift with 9 nominations, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with 7 each. Power to the women, who have been dominating pop music in recent years. Led by the Queen of Pop, who also tops these newly revealed nominations. Bruno Mars, Zara Larsson, and PinkPantheress are also doing well, with their names appearing in 5 different categories, followed by Lisa with 4 and Tate McRae and Shakira tied with three nominations each.
But let’s take it one step at a time, because the best visual effects come from: Ariana Grande with “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” JISOO X ZAYN with “Eyes Closed,” Madonna with “Confessions II – The Film,” PinkPantheress with “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer with “Click Clack Symphony,” and Taylor Swift with “The Fate of Ophelia.” Competing for the Moon Person Award for Best Choreography are GENER8ION with “STORM starring Yung Lean,” Harry Styles with “Dance No More,” KATSEYE with “PINKY UP,” Madonna with “Confessions II – The Film,” Tate McRae with “Nobody’s Girl,” and Taylor Swift with “The Fate of Ophelia.” The nominees for Best Editing are similar. Ariana Grande with “hate that i made you love me” will face off against Bruno Mars with “I Just Might,” LISA with “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi,” Madonna with “Confessions II – The Film,” Sabrina Carpenter with “House Tour,” and Taylor Swift with “The Fate of Ophelia.”
In the Best Cinematography category, A$AP Rocky takes the spotlight with “PUNK ROCKY,” which will go head-to-head not only with Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Madonna, but also with LISA and Shaboozey for “Cowgirl.” In the Best Art Direction category, Charli XCX’s “SS26” is a must-see, competing against Madonna and Taylor Swift, of course, but also against Lady Gaga & Doechii for “RUNAWAY,” PinkPantheress for “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” and SOMBR for “My Body Isn’t Ready.” Ariana Grande is back in the running for Best Direction, alongside Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter once again for “House Tour,” as well as Bruno Mars for “I Just Might” and GENER8ION for “STORM starring Yung Lean.”
The Best Country category features the phenomenal Ella Langley with “Choosin’ Texas,” Kacey Musgraves with “Dry Spell,” Lainey Wilson with “Somewhere Over Laredo,” Luke Combs with “Back in the Saddle,” Shaboozey with “Cowgirl,” Stella Lefty with “Boston,” and Tucker Wetmore with “Brunette.” Meanwhile, the competition in the Best K-Pop Video category is fierce. The lineup includes BLACKPINK with “JUMP,” BTS—of course—with “SWIM,” CORTIS with “REDRED,” the unstoppable KATSEYE with “PINKY UP,” LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) with “SPAGHETTI,” and LISA solo with “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi.”
It’s also a big challenge for Best Latin, with Anitta and Shakira for “Choka Choka,” Artist of the Year Bad Bunny and his “NUEVAYoL,” Fuerza Regida for “TU SANCHO,” Karol G and “Papasito,” Rosalía alongside Yahritza Y Su Esencia for “La Perla,” Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA for “LA VILLA,” and Shakira once again—this time with Burna Boy—for the 2026 World Cup anthem “Dai Dai.” Madonna returns in the Best Dance category alongside PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, followed by Bebe Rexha and Faithless on “New Religion,” Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii’s “RUNAWAY” once again, Slayyyter with “DANCE…,” and Tate McRae with “Nobody’s Girl.”
The Best Alternative category features top-tier acts. Geese with “Taxes,” MGK teaming up with Fred Durst for “Fix Ur Face,” Noah Kahan for “The Great Divide,” Olivia Rodrigo for “The Cure,” SOMBR for “Homewrecker,” Tame Impala with “Dracula,” and Twenty One Pilots with “Drag Path.” Best R&B? Here you go. Bruno Mars is a must, followed by Justin Bieber with “YUKON,” Chris Brown with “It Depends/Obvious,” Dave & Tems with “Raindance,” Kehlani with “Folded,” and Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis with “Is It a Crime”. In the Best Hip Hop category, we have: Cardi B feat. Kehlani with “Safe,” Don Toliver with “E85,” Drake with “Janice STFU,” Megan Thee Stallion with “LOVER GIRL,” Travis Scott with “DUMBO,” and Tyler, the Creator with the hit “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.”
Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Taylor Swift. Not a bad lineup for the Best Pop category. Next up is Best Collaboration, featuring other big names. Like Clipse—that is, Pusha T and Malice—featuring Kendrick Lamar on “Chains & Whips,” French Montana x Max B in “Ever Since U Left Me,” of course “Bring Your Love” by Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with “Stateside,” Shakira and Burna Boy, and finally Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye with “Hard Part.”
There’s also a lot of anticipation for the Best New Artist category, where it’s impossible not to notice Sienna Spiro, who’s up against Bella Kay, CORTIS, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, and Stella Lefty. Things are really heating up. Which song will be named Song of the Year? Perhaps “SWIM” by BTS, “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley, “Golden” by HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Bring Your Love” by Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean, “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, or “Where Is My Husband!” by RAYE? We don’t know.
We don’t know who will be named Artist of the Year, because there are so many great contenders. The nominees are all heavyweights: Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, and the ever-present Taylor Swift. Finally, for perhaps the most coveted award of the night—Video of the Year—the nominees are: Ariana Grande with “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Bruno Mars with “I Just Might,” GENER8ION with “STORM starring Yung Lean,” Madonna, of course, with “Confessions II – The Film,” Sabrina Carpenter with “Tears,” and Taylor Swift with “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Who will win? For many categories (13), fans will decide on the MTV website through September 25. Two days before we find out who the winners will be in what promises to be an explosive edition.
[📸 BACKGRID / Snapix]
