Published: 14:52 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 15:13 BST, 18 August 2026
The nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were unveiled Tuesday morning, with Madonna emerging as the artist with the most nods.
Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories.
They will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II – The Film.
Rounding out the category are the music videos for Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande, Tears by Sabrina Carpenter, I Just Might by Bruno Mars and Storm by GENER8ION (starring Yung Lean).
Swift, 36, and Beyonce, 44, are currently tied as the most decorated artists in the history of the VMAs, each with 30 gongs to her name.
Inasmuch as Beyonce has no nominations this year, all Swift has to do is win a single prize in order to become the single record-holder, via the Associated Press.
The nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were unveiled Tuesday morning, with Madonna emerging as the artist with the most nods
Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories
Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like a Virgin.
She has emerged as a reliable engine of memorable moments at the extravaganza, where she ignited a fan frenzy in 2003 by kissing Britney Spears on the lips.
Over the course of her more than four-decade career, Madonna has earned a total of 19 VMAs, meaning that in order to equal Swift and Beyonce's current record she will have to triumph in every category in which she is nominated this year.
The VMAs will be held on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS at 7:30pm EST.
Trailing Madonna and Swift, Grande and Carpenter are tied for third place with seven nominations apiece, while Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsonn each have five.
The artist of the year category is a face-off between Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars and country music heartthrob Morgan Wallen.