Taylor Swift has also boosted her tally, rising from nine to eleven nominations and setting her on a clear course to become the most honored artist in VMA history. A single victory could propel her beyond the current record. Swift’s fresh nods include Best Album and Song of Summer.
Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, who each held seven nominations previously, have moved up to nine and eight respectively, while Bruno Mars has increased from five to six nominations.
In the Best Group race, BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, FLO, Fuerza Regida, Geese, KATSEYE, and Twenty One Pilots will compete. For Best Long Form Video, contenders include Charli XCX’s Music, Fashion, Film; Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas; GENER8ION’s STORM featuring Yung Lean; and Madonna’s CONFESSIONS II—The Film.
The Best Album category features Drake’s Iceman, Madonna’s CONFESSIONS II, Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, and Taylor Swift’s THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL.
Song of Summer showcases a lineup that includes Charli XCX, Ella Langley, KATSEYE, Olivia Dean, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Latto with Doja Cat, Morgan Wallen, Slayyyter, SOMBR, STELLA LEFTY, and a collaboration between Tame Impala and JENNIE.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Madonna will perform at the VMAs for the first time in 23 years. The Queen of Pop is set to open the show in Los Angeles later this month, marking her first VMA performance since the famous 2003 moment where she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on the stage.
Madonna’s VMAs legacy runs deep, with 19 career wins at the ceremony. Her 1984 performance of Like a Virgin during the inaugural VMAs is widely regarded as a watershed moment in the history of pop culture. The 2026 VMAs are scheduled for September 27 and will be hosted by Snoop Dogg, marking the first time the awards bash has taken place in Los Angeles since 2017.
Her appearance on stage comes on the heels of the July release of her acclaimed album Confessions II, a project she described as both an honor and a surprise given its reception. The Vogue icon, now 68, shared her gratitude on Instagram after the album topped the US Billboard Chart, writing that words can hardly express how grateful and surprised she is about the overwhelming response to Confessions on a Dance Floor. She thanked everyone who has contributed to making the dream a reality, with special praise for her fans, noting the goodwill and positivity have been extraordinary and that she’s still pinching herself. She added that she couldn’t believe it’s #1 worldwide and that her dream was to make people dance this summer, to bring joy to people, because dreams do come true. She concluded with thanks and love.
