Rabat – Madonna is leading the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, earning 11 nods and putting her ahead of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter.
The pop icon is nominated across 11 categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, alongside Best Collaboration, Best Dance, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, and Best Visual Effects.
Since her first MTV Video Music Awards show performance of “Like a Virgin,” she was the leading nominee in multiple years, and became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
Taylor Swift follows Madonna with nine nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, and Best Visual Effects.
Her nominations largely come for her “The Fate of Ophelia” video.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter follow with seven nominations each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson each earned five nominations.
BLACKPINK’s LISA secured four nominations, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean each earned three.
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are one of the music industry’s biggest annual award shows, celebrating the artists, songs, and music videos that have shaped pop culture.
Since launching in 1984, the ceremony has become known for its high-energy performances, unexpected collaborations, and memorable moments.
Unlike traditional music awards, the VMAs place a strong focus on the visual side of music, with categories recognizing everything from Video of the Year and cinematography to choreography, editing, art direction, and visual effects.
The show also honors artists across genres, from pop and hip-hop to rock, R&B, and Latin music.
The ceremony has also become a major platform for live performances. Over the years, artists including Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and Taylor Swift have delivered performances that went on to become defining moments in pop culture.
