More than 40 years after her history-making performance of “Like a Virgin” at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna remains a dominant force in music. She leads the 2026 field with 11 nominations, including recognition for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Bring Your Love.” ET on CBS and stream on MTV and Paramount+ Premium. Here are the VMAs winners (in bold).
Taylor Swift follows closely with nine nominations, vying for Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Pop for her work on “The Fate of Ophelia.” Other top contenders include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, who both secured seven nominations, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson, who earned significant recognition for their recent projects.
Snoop Dogg serves as the master of ceremonies for this year’s event, which is scheduled to air live from Los Angeles on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The gala brings together the year’s most influential artists to honor top-tier music videos and tracks selected by the industry and fans.
Major Category Results
- Best Pop Winner: LISA for “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” (Lloud Co./RCA Records)
Nominees and Industry Highlights
- Ariana Grande: “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars: “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
- GENER8ION: “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
- Madonna: “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- Sabrina Carpenter: “Tears” – Island
- Taylor Swift: “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
- Morgan Wallen: Big Loud/Mercury Records
- Ella Langley: “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Additional Key Releases and Collaborations
- HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
- Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter: “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
- PinkPantheress: “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- RAYE: “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
- Magnus Ferrell: Visva Records/Republic Records
- Stella Lefty: Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
- Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice: “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
- French Montana x Max B: “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
- Shakira & Burna Boy: “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
- Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye: “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
Pop and Genre-Specific Contenders
- Ariana Grande: “hate that i made you love me”
- Charli xcx: “SS26” – Atlantic Records
- Olivia Rodrigo: “drop dead” – Geffen Records
- Sabrina Carpenter: “House Tour” – Island
- Tate McRae: “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
- Taylor Swift: “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
- Cardi B featuring Kehlani: “Safe” – Atlantic Records
- Don Toliver: “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
- Drake: “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
- Megan Thee Stallion: “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
- Travis Scott: “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
- Tyler, The Creator: “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
- Chris Brown: “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
- Dave & Tems: “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
- Justin Bieber: “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
- Kehlani: “Folded” – Atlantic Records
- Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis: “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
- Geese: “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
- mgk & Fred Durst: “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
- Noah Kahan: “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
- Olivia Rodrigo: “the cure” – Geffen Records
- SOMBR: “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- Tame Impala: “Dracula” – Columbia Records
- twenty one pilots: “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless: “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
- Harry Styles: “Aperture” – Columbia Records
- Lady Gaga & Doechii: “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
- Slayyyter: “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
- Anitta with Shakira: “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
- Bad Bunny: “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
- Fuerza Regida: “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
- KAROL G: “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Important Details
- Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” – Columbia Records.
- Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin.
- BLACKPINK, “JUMP” – YG Entertainment.
- KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records.
- LE SSERAFIM (featuring j-hope of BTS), “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC.
- Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records.
- Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records.
- Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville.
