Pop superstar Madonna dominates the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with eleven total recognitions, while Taylor Swift secures nine nominations in the same competition. The remaining top contenders—including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bruno Mars—round out the field across diverse genres spanning pop, hip-hop, R&B, alternative, Latin, and K-pop music.

The voting window is currently open and concludes on September 25, with fans casting ballots through MTV's official platform, except for Best New Artist voting which remains active through the live broadcast. The ceremony takes place in Los Angeles and will air simultaneously on CBS and MTV on September 27, honouring the year's most acclaimed musical artists and video achievements.