Image Source: Billboard
Madonna is leading the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with a career-best 11 nods, marking a major comeback moment for the legendary pop star. Billboard reported the nominations on Aug. 18, placing the singer ahead of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter in one of the year’s most competitive music awards races.
Madonna Makes a Historic Return to the Top
The nomination haul is especially significant because it is the first time Madonna has been the leading VMA nominee since 1998. That year, she received nine nominations and ultimately won video of the year for “Ray of Light.” She had also topped the nominations list in 1990, when “Vogue” competed for the ceremony’s biggest prize.
With 11 nominations this year, the singer has surpassed both of those previous personal highs. Her 14-minute visual project, “Confessions II – The Film,” is nominated for video of the year, best dance, best direction, best art direction, best cinematography, best editing, best choreography and best visual effects.
The long-form film follows a growing VMA tradition of recognizing ambitious visual projects. Taylor Swift’s 15-minute “All Too Well: The Short Film” won video of the year in 2022, while Ariana Grande’s 26-minute “Brighter Days Ahead” claimed the award last year.
Explosive Competition in the Video of the Year Race
The video of the year category brings together three previous winners and three artists seeking their first victory in the marquee category. The nominees are:
- 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”
Grande, Madonna and Swift have already won video of the year, giving the category considerable star power. GENER8ION’s “STORM,” an audiovisual collaboration between French DJ Surkin and director Romain Gavras, could benefit most from the nomination as the least familiar title in the lineup. The video stars Swedish rapper Yung Lean as a disruptive student at an all-boys British boarding school.
Women Dominate the 2026 MTV VMA Nominations
Swift ranks second overall with nine nominations. Grande and Carpenter each earn seven, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson receive five apiece. LISA follows with four nods.
Seven of the eight artists with the most nominations are women, highlighting the strong presence of female artists across the 2026 awards field. Grande also extends her record for artist of the year nominations with a sixth appearance in the category. Swift follows with her fifth nomination.
The artist of the year lineup includes Grande, Swift, Madonna, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen. Madonna’s inclusion is her first nomination in the category, while Wallen represents country music for the second consecutive year. Notably, no hip-hop artist made the category for the first time since its introduction in 2017, and no Latin artist was nominated there for the first time in five years.
Fan Voting and Ceremony Details Revealed
Fan voting is open in 13 categories through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Best new artist voting will remain active through the live broadcast. Fans can also receive double votes during the daily “Power Hour,” which runs from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern Time from Aug. 20 through Sept. 24.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on CBS from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be simulcast on MTV and Paramount+ in the United States. International viewers will be able to watch the show on Paramount+ and MTV the following day.
The event marks the VMAs’ first return to the Los Angeles area since 2017, when Katy Perry hosted from The Forum in Inglewood. It is also the second consecutive year the ceremony will air on CBS and the first time the VMAs have been staged in the fall.
What Madonna’s Record Tally Could Mean
Beyond the numbers, the nominations reinforce Madonna’s enduring influence on music video culture. Her ability to compete alongside some of pop’s biggest current stars makes the 2026 ceremony a potential generational showcase.
Her strongest opportunity may come in video of the year, where cinematic scale, visual storytelling and fan enthusiasm could all play a role. If “Confessions II – The Film” wins, it would add another major chapter to Madonna’s long VMA legacy and give fans a historic moment to celebrate.
When are the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
How many nominations did Madonna receive?
Madonna received 11 nominations, the highest total of her career and the most among all artists nominated for the 2026 VMAs.
Is Madonna nominated for video of the year?
Yes. Madonna is nominated for video of the year for “Confessions II – The Film,” a 14-minute visual project.
How can fans vote for the VMAs?
Fans can vote in 13 categories through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Best new artist voting remains open through the show.
