Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMAs Nominations With Record-Breaking 11 Nods
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have delivered a major surprise, and Madonna is right at the centre of it. The legendary singer leads this year’s nominations with 11 nods, marking the first time since 1998 that she has topped the VMA nomination list, and the first time in her career she has received 11 nominations in a single year.
Taylor Swift follows closely with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five nominations apiece, with LISA earning four. One striking detail is that seven of the eight most-nominated artists this year are women, highlighting another strong showing for female artists. Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film” is also nominated for Video of the Year alongside works from Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, GENER8ION, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift.
The 2026 VMAs will take place on September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, with the ceremony airing live on CBS, MTV and Paramount+. Fan voting is already open in 13 categories, giving music lovers the chance to decide who takes home the coveted Moon Persons.
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