Image: @madonna/Instagram
Madonna is officially the leading nominee of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The pop sensation and gay icon has totalled 11 nods, placing her two nominations ahead of runner-up Taylor Swift. Other contenders include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, each with seven nominations, as well as Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, and Bruno Mars with five nods respectively.
It marks the first time Madonna has been the VMAs’ leading nominee since 1998, the first year she took home video of the year with “Ray of Light”. This year, Madonna’s 14-minute “Confessions II – The Film” is nominated for the same award, previously awarded to Ariana Grande in 2025 for her short film “Brighter Days Ahead”, which was nearly double in length.
Of course, Grande will again be competing for the 2026 VMAs video of the year, the artist having been nominated for her “hate that i made you love me” music video. Other nominees in the prized category include Taylor Swift (The Fate of Ophelia), Sabrina Carpenter (Tears), Bruno Mars (I Just Might), and GENER8ION (Storm).
Madonna’s Nominated Categories
Alongside the video category, Madonna is up for both artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects. She is also up for best dance, a category that is returning for the first time in seven years.
Though Madonna has yet to claim that particular award, “Confessions II –the Film” is certainly in the running this year. That said she’ll be up against some tough contenders, Lady Gaga & Doechii among them.
Notably, every single lead nominee for best pop are women, with artists Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, and Harry Styles nominated for their R&B and/or dancing chops instead.
The exciting news for Madonna fans comes just two weeks after The Material Girl announced her first ever track collaboration with Australia’s own queen of pop, Kylie Minogue.
The VMAs will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday 27 September, though Australians will be able to stream it on demand on Paramount+.
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