Madonna has 13 nominations heading into the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, making her the night’s leading nominee. That is a familiar perch for the pop legend, who has a deep history on the MTV awards show. Taylor Swift follows with 11 nods, and she holds the record for most Moon Person wins with 30. Sabrina Carpenter sits third with nine nods, followed by Ariana Grande with eight, Bruno Mars with six, and PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five each.
The show airs live Sunday night from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg. Billboard is tracking the winners as they are announced, and the list below will be updated in real time.
Madonna Opens the Show
Madonna opens the evening with a performance, setting the tone for a night that leans heavily on tribute and legacy. Kacey Musgraves performs a tribute to Dolly Parton, while RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims honor George Michael. Nirvana receives the Video Vanguard Award. LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey (with and without Gunna) and GENER8ION & Yung Lean round out the live performances.
The show is produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van Toffler serves as producer, with Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barb Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serving as executive producers alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block is co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy is co-producer. Snoop Dogg is executive producer alongside Sara Ramaker and Jasmin Ratansi, with Jen Proctor handling executive talent production.
Genre-Neutral Categories
The genre-neutral categories pit artists across genres against one another for the biggest prizes. Video of the Year is a contest between six tracks:
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| 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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”; 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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”; Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”; Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” |
Artist of the Year honors Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift. Song of the Year nominees include Ella Langley (“Choosin’ Texas”), HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI (“Golden”), Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter (“Bring Your Love”), Olivia Dean (“Man I Need”), PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson (“Stateside”), and RAYE (“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”).
Best New Artist features a field of seven debut acts: Bella Kay, CORTIS, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty. The category rewards fresh voices rather than established stars.
Best Collaboration is a crowded field with Shakira & Burna Boy (“Dai Dai”), Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye (“Hard Part”) and French Montana x Max B (“Ever Since U Left Me”) joining the Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter pairing and PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson.
Genre-Specific Categories
The genre-specific categories break down the competition by style, with separate winners for Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Alternative, Dance, Latin, K-Pop and Country. Each category has its own set of nominees, and the full list runs long.
Pop nominees include Ariana Grande, Charli xcx, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae and Taylor Swift. Hip-Hop nominees are Cardi B feat. Kehlani, Don Toliver, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, Tyler, The Creator. R&B nominees are Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Dave & Tems, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis.
Alternative nominees span Geese, mgk & Fred Durst, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, SOMBR, Tame Impala, twenty one pilots and twenty one pilots. Dance nominees include Bebe Rexha & Faithless, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga & Doechii, Madonna, PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson, Slayyyter and Tate McRae.
Latin nominees are Anitta with Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, KAROL G, Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA and Shakira & Burna Boy. K-Pop nominees are BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS), LISA and LISA (“Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”). Country nominees are Ella Langley and Olivia Dean.
The Night’s Structure
The show follows a deliberate sequence of events, with Madonna’s opening performance anchoring the start of the broadcast. The schedule of performances and tributes gives the show a deliberate shape.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening | Madonna performs |
| Tribute | Kacey Musgraves honors Dolly Parton |
| Tribute | RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims honor George Michael |
| Vanguard Award | Nirvana receives the Video Vanguard Award |
| Live lineup | LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey (with and without Gunna) and GENER8ION & Yung Lean perform |
| Host | Snoop Dogg hosts the show |
A Machine Built to Run
The sheer scale of the production is notable. A show this large requires coordination across labels, studios, networks and creative teams, and the list of producers and talent producers shows the machinery behind the curtain.
Snoop Dogg’s role as host adds star power to the proceedings. His presence anchors the broadcast, giving the show a familiar face to guide viewers through the evening’s performances and winners.
What the List Says
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards is a sprawling machine of performances, tributes and announcements. It is also a reminder of how much work goes into a single broadcast, from the producers to the talent producers to the executives who keep the whole thing running.
The show’s format rewards longevity and innovation in equal measure. Madonna’s 13 nominations speak to a career built on reinvention, while Ariana Grande’s presence across multiple categories speaks to sustained relevance.
The night’s biggest moments will be the performances and the Vanguard Award induction. The winners list will settle the rest, with Billboard following along as winners are revealed.
The show airs Sunday night from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Stick with Billboard for the live updates.
Source material: “Here Are All the 2026 MTV VMAs Winners: Full List (Updating Live),” Billboard.
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