Over more than four decades, the MTV Video Music Awards have evolved from a ceremony honoring music videos into pop music's ultimate televised celebration, where performances, fashion and unscripted moments can become as culturally significant as the awards themselves.
Before the 2026 ceremony began, Taylor Swift and Nirvana were already winners. Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, which will raise her career total to 31 trophies and make her the most-awarded artist in VMA history, while Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award for its enduring influence on music and visual culture.
Madonna leads the 2026 field with 13 nominations after MTV added Best Album and Best Long Form Video to her original 11 nods. Her nominations include Artist of the Year, Video of the Year for "Confessions II - The Film" and Song of the Year for "Bring Your Love" with Sabrina Carpenter. Swift follows with 11 nominations, while Ariana Grande and Carpenter have seven each. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson received five nominations apiece, placing them among the night's other leading contenders.
Latino artists are represented across several categories, led by Shakira, who has three nominations, including Best Collaboration and Best Latin for "Dai Dai" with Burna Boy and Best Latin for "Choka Choka" with Brazilian star Anitta.
The Best Latin field also includes Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, Karol G, Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia, and a collaboration by Ryan Castro, Kapo and GANGSTA.
Latino representation extends beyond the category through nominees including Puerto Rican and Filipino American star Bruno Mars, Colombian American singer Kali Uchis and Cardi B, who is of Dominican and Trinidadian heritage.
ALL THE WINNERS:
Taylor Swift: won the Inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, which recognized her influence as a music-video director and visual storyteller.
Nirvana: Video Vanguard Award, honoring the band's lasting influence on music videos, MTV and popular culture.
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 - Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside
Raye - Where Is My Husband!
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance®
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 & Max B - Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside
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 & Kentara Sakaguchi - Dream
Olivia Rodrigo - Drop Dead
Sabrina Carpenter - House Tour
Tate McRae - Nobody's Girl
Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B & 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, presented by Bacardí® Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless - New Religion
Harry Styles - Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii - Runway
Madonna - Confessions II - The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside
Slayyyter - Dance...
Tate McRae - Nobody's Girl
Best Latin
Anitta & Shakira - Choka Choka
Bad Bunny - Nuevayol
Fuerza Regida - Tu Sancho
Karol G - Papasito
Rosalía & 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 & J-Hope of BTS - Spaghetti
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi - Dream
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 - Runway
Madonna - Confessions II - The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside
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 & Kentara Sakaguchi - Dream
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 & Kentara Sakaguchi - Dream
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 & Zayn - Eyes Closed
Madonna - Confessions II - The Film
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson - Stateside
Raye & Hans Zimmer - Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia
