MADONNA REIGNS SUPREME WITH 11 NOMINATIONS AS THE 2026 MTV VMAs SET THE STAGE FOR SEPTEMBER 27

The Queen of Pop is back at the top.

Madonna leads the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, scoring an impressive 11 nominations as the annual awards show prepares to take over Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27. The music icon enters this year’s ceremony as the most-nominated artist, adding another chapter to a relationship with MTV that has helped define pop culture for more than four decades.

Much of Madonna’s dominance comes behind her latest era and “Confessions II – The Film,” which earned recognition in several major and technical categories. She is nominated for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, in addition to categories including Best Collaboration, Best Dance, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.

Madonna’s showing is especially significant considering her history with the VMAs. The superstar currently holds 19 career VMA wins, and a major sweep in September could push her significantly higher among the ceremony’s most decorated artists. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift currently sit at 30 wins apiece.

But Madonna won’t be without serious competition.

Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earn seven nominations each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each score five, with LISA, Shakira, Tate McRae and several other major artists appearing throughout this year’s field.

The coveted Video of the Year race will see Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film” face Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean’s “STORM starring Yung Lean,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears” and Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.”

This year’s nominations also make room for a new generation of talent, with 26 artists receiving their first-ever VMA nominations. Among the newcomers are Olivia Dean, Noah Kahan and others entering the MTV awards conversation for the first time.

The 2026 ceremony also marks the return of Best Dance, a category coming back after a seven-year absence, while fan voting is now underway across 13 categories and will remain open through September 25. Voting for Best New Artist will continue into the show.

For Madonna, however, leading the field with 11 nominations feels particularly fitting. From her groundbreaking performances during MTV’s earliest years to becoming one of the defining architects of the modern music video, her history has long been intertwined with the network and the VMAs.

More than 40 years after the inaugural ceremony, Madonna isn’t simply being celebrated for what she contributed to MTV’s past — she’s competing at the very top of its present.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+.

The Prince Report