Althea Legaspi
Contact Althea Legaspi on X View all posts by Althea Legaspi September 27, 2026 Add us as a Google Preferred Source
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Matthew Taplinger/CBS/Getty Images The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony has arrived. Tonight, the biggest names in music gathered at the VMAs to see who would take home the night’s top prizes.
Madonna led all nominees this year with 13, thanks largely in part to the short film she made for her celebrated new album, Confessions II. In addition to being up for the coveted Video of the Year, it’s also earned several nods in creative categories, including Best Direction, Cinematography, and Choreography. It also received a nomination for the resurrected Best Dance category, which was doled out regularly for decades beginning in 1989, but hasn’t been awarded since 2019.
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s Confessions II song, “Bring Your Love,” scored nominations for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration, and Madonna is up for Artist of the Year, too.
Taylor Swift trailed closely behind, earning 11 nominations. She is also up for Artist of the Year. Swift’s video for her Life of a Showgirl hit, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is nominated for Video of the Year, Best Pop, and numerous creative prizes. The visual for Swift’s other big Showgirl hit, “Opalite,” also scored a lone nod for Best Direction. It was already a big night for Swift leading up to the VMAs, as she was named the inaugural recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors ahead of the show.
In the coveted Video of the Year category, the Confessions II short film and “The Fate of Ophelia” will compete against Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears.” Artist of the Year boasts Madonna and Swift competing against Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen.
Other highlights from this year’s VMAs are Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award, and a bevy of newcomers are all up for Best New Artist, including Bella Kay, Cortis, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro, and Stella Lefty.
Editor’s picks
The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far
The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
See the list of winners below (bolded), which will be updated throughout the night.
Video of the Year Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” Bruno Mars — “I Just Might” Gener8ion — “STORM starring Yung Lean” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” Sabrina Carpenter — “Tears” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Artist of the Year Ariana Grande Bruno Mars Madonna Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Song of the Year BTS — “Swim” Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas” HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI — “Golden” Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love” Olivia Dean — “Man I Need” PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” RAYE — “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” Best New Artist Bella Kay CORTIS Magnus Ferrell Malcolm Todd Myles Smith Sienna Spiro Stella Lefty Best Collaboration Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice — “Chains & Whips” French Montana x Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me” Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love” PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai” Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye — “Hard Part” Best Pop Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” Charli XCX — “SS26” LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” Olivia Rodrigo — “drop dead” Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Hip-Hop Cardi B ft. Kehlani — “Safe” Don Toliver — “E85” Drake — “Janice STFU” Megan Thee Stallion — “LOVER GIRL” Travis Scott — “DUMBO” Tyler, The Creator — “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” Best R&B Bruno Mars — “I Just Might” Chris Brown — “It Depends/Obvious” Dave & Tems — “Raindance” Justin Bieber — “YUKON” Kehlani — “Folded” Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis — “Is It a Crime” Best Alternative Geese — “Taxes” mgk & Fred Durst — “FIX UR FACE” Noah Kahan — “The Great Divide” Olivia Rodrigo — “the cure SOMBR — “Homewrecker” Tame Impala — “Dracula” twenty one pilots — “Drag Path” Best Dance Bebe Rexha & Faithless — “New Religion” Harry Styles — “Aperture” Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Slayyyter — “DANCE …” Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl” Best Latin Anitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka” Bad Bunny — “NUEVAYoL” Fuerza Regida — “TU SANCHO” KAROL G — “Papasito” Rosalía ft. Yahritza y Su Esencia — “La Perla” Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA — “LA VILLA” Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai” Best K-Pop BLACKPINK — “JUMP” BTS — “SWIM” CORTIS — “REDRED” KATSEYE — “PINKY UP” LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI” LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” Best Country Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas” Kacey Musgraves — “Dry Spell” Lainey Wilson — “Somewhere Over Laredo” Luke Combs — “Back in the Saddle” Shaboozey — “Cowgirl” Stella Lefty — “Boston” Tucker Wetmore — “Brunette” Best Direction Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” Bruno Mars — “I Just Might” GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” Taylor Swift — “Opalite” Best Art Direction Charli XCX — “SS26” Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” SOMBR — “My Body Isn’t Ready” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Cinematography A$AP Rocky — “PUNK ROCKY” Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” Shaboozey — “Cowgirl” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Editing Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” Bruno Mars — “I Just Might” LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Choreography GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean” Harry Styles — “Dance No More” KATSEYE — “PINKY UP” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Visual Effects Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” JISOO X ZAYN — “Eyes Closed” Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer — “Click Clack Symphony.” Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
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Social Categories: Best Group: BLACKPINK BTS CORTIS FLO Fuerza Regida Geese KATSEYE Twenty One Pilots Best Long Form Video: Charli xcx – “Music, Fashion, Film” – Atlantic Records Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records GENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
