Madonna is the top nominee heading into the 2026 MTV
#VMAs, with the pop icon earning 11 nominations overall this year, including for artist of the year, video of the year, song of the year for her Sabrina Carpenter collaboration “Bring Your Love” and video of the year for “Confessions II – The Film.”
Taylor Swift, the most-awarded act in VMAs history, came in second this year with nine nominations, including for artist of the year and video of the year with “The Fate of Ophelia.” Ariana Grande and Carpenter are tied for third with seven each. Both earned artist and video of the year nods as well; Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” is up for video of the year, as is Carpenter’s “Tears.”
The last two acts for this year’s video of the year race are Bruno Mars for “I Just Might,” and Gener8ion for “STORM starring Yung Lean.” Mars, who has five nominations overall, is also up for artist of the year, with Morgan Wallen rounding out the nominees in the category.
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