It’s no time warp — Madonna leads all other divas in nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with 11 nods, it was announced Tuesday morning. She’s followed by Taylor Swift, with nine nominations, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, with seven each. Others with multiple shots at a Moon Person (as the awards have been non-gender-specifically known for many years now) include Bruno Mars, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress with five nominations each.
Blackpink’s Lisa with four, and Tate McRae and Shakira, tied with three each. The VMAs will take place this year at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marking the first time the show has been held on the west coast in nine years. The show was last broadcast from L.A. in 2017, when it was hosted by Katy Perry from the pre-Kia Forum.
The two-hour show will air Sept. 27 on CBS, MTV and Paramount+. It will air live on both coasts at 7:30-9:30 p.m. A host has not yet been revealed.
Fan voting in 13 categories is now open at vote.mtv.com through Sept. 25. One additional category, best new artists, will remain open for fan votes all the way into the live telecast. Artist of the year is a contest between Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars and Morgan Wallen.
The six candidates for video of the year are Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film,” Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Carpenter’s “Tears,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Just Might” and Gener8ion’s “Storm Starring Yung Lean.” The best new artist nominees are SIenna Spiro, Stella Lefty, Malcolmn Todd, Bella Kay, Cortis, Myles Smith and Magnus Ferrell. Scroll down for a full list of 2026 nominees. Some of the year’s most prominent superstars were limited to two nominations apiece, including Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Ella Langley, Harry Styles, Katseye, Charli xcx and Harry Styles.
Although Wallen, who has had the biggest selling album of the year, received a nomination in a top category, artist of the year, that represents his sole nomination. The 2026 VMAs are being produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with MTV veteran Van Toffler as lead producer. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski, Bruce Gillmer, Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer are the show’s executive producers.
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