Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations with 11 nods, setting up a return to the VMA stage as she prepares to open the ceremony on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, according to Associated Press reports. The pop superstar, who has earned nominations across every decade of her musical career, will perform live at the event for the first time in 23 years.
Madonna and Taylor Swift Dominate 2026 VMA Nominations
Madonna’s 11 nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards span categories including video, artist, and song of the year, alongside best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects. Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, securing nods for video and artist of the year, best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects, as reported by the Associated Press.
Swift also enters the ceremony tied with Beyoncé as the most-awarded musician in VMA history, with 30 wins each. During the broadcast, Swift will receive a new VMA award designed to recognize artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.” She is additionally scheduled to debut the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” which she directed and which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.
Performances and Tributes at the Peacock Theater
The two-hour ceremony will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, September 27. Snoop Dogg, a 13-time nominee and three-time winner who made his VMA debut in 1994, will host the evening.
The night features several music tributes. Kacey Musgraves will perform a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died in Nashville of cancer in August at age 80. Separately, Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims will honor George Michael on the tenth anniversary of his death on Christmas Day. Additional performers include Raye as a solo act, GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, and Lisa alongside Sienna Spiro.
Nomination Breakdown and Presenter Lineup
Behind Madonna and Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter secured seven nominations each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson earned five nods apiece, while Blackpink’s LISA received four. Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean each hold three nominations.
The presenter lineup features Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla, and Troye Sivan.
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