Madonna leads Taylor Swift in 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations

Madonna has topped the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, earning 11 nods and surpassing Taylor Swift, who received nine nominations.

The pop icon is nominated for Video of the Year for Confessions II - The Film and is also in contention for Artist of the Year. Her 11 nominations mark another major milestone in a career that has been closely tied to the VMAs since the ceremony's earliest years.

Madonna first won a VMA in 1986, when she received the Video Vanguard Award. She has since collected 20 VMA awards, while her performance of Like a Virgin at the inaugural ceremony in 1984 remains one of the show's most memorable moments.

Swift follows Madonna with nine nominations. She is nominated for Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia, from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. Swift currently shares the record for the most VMA wins of all time with Beyoncé, with 30 awards each.

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are also among this year's biggest nominees, with each artist receiving seven nominations.

The 2026 VMAs will feature fan voting across 13 categories. The winners will be announced during the live ceremony on September 27, which will air on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+.

The nominations put Madonna and Swift at the centre of this year's ceremony, bringing together two generations of pop stars who have both made a significant mark on MTV's flagship music awards show.