Nigerian music stars Burna Boy and Tems are flying the country’s flag at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Both stars earned nominations in major categories this year.
Burna Boy picked up two nominations for “Dai Dai”, his World Cup collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira. The song is up for Best Collaboration and Best Latin. Tems, meanwhile, earned a Best R&B nomination with British rapper Dave for their song “Raindance”.
The 2026 VMAs will hold on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Fans can vote in most categories daily until September 25 at 6 p.m. ET. However, the Best Afrobeats category is missing from this year’s lineup.
Madonna leads the nominations with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows closely with nine. The ceremony will air live on CBS, with MTV and Paramount+ also carrying the show. Here is the full list of nominees:
Full List of 2026 MTV VMA 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 – SwimElla Langley – Choosin’ Texas
- HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – Golden
- Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
- Olivia Dean – Man I Need
- PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
- 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 – Stateside + Zara Larsson
- Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
- Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part
Best Pop
- Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
- Charli xcx – SS26LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead
- Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
- Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Hip-Hop
- Cardi B ft. Kehlani – SafeDon Toliver – E85
- Drake – Janice STFU
- Megan Thee Stallion – LOVER GIRL
- Travis Scott – DUMBO
- Tyler, The Creator – SUGAR ON MY TONGUE
Best R&B
- Bruno Mars – I Just Might
- Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
- Dave & Tems – Raindance
- Justin Bieber – Yukon
- Kehlani – Folded
- Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
Best Alternative
- Geese – Taxesmgk & Fred Durst – FIX UR FACE
- Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
- Olivia Rodrigo – The Cure
- SOMBR – Homewrecker
- Tame Impala – Dracula
- twenty one pilots – Drag Path
Best Dance
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
- Harry Styles – Aperture
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
- Slayyyter – DANCE…
- Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Best Latin
- Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka
- Bad Bunny – NUEVA
- YoLFuerza Regida – TU SANCHO
- KAROL G – Papasito
- Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla
- Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – LA VILLA
- Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Best K-Pop
- BLACKPINK – JUMP
- BTS – SWIM
- CORTIS – REDRED
- KATSEYE – PINKY UP
- LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – SPAGHETTI
- LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Country
- Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
- Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
- Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo
- Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
- Shaboozey – Cowgirl
- Stella Lefty – Boston
- Tucker Wetmore – Brunette
Best Direction
- 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 – House Tour
- Taylor Swift – Opalite
Best Art Direction
- Charli xcx – SS26
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
- SOMBR – My Body Isn’t Ready
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Cinematography
- A$AP Rocky – PUNK ROCKY
- Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
- LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- Shaboozey – Cowgirl
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Editing
- Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
- Bruno Mars – I Just Might
- LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Choreography
- GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
- Harry Styles – Dance No More
- KATSEYE – PINKY UP
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Visual Effects
- Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
- JISOO X ZAYN – Eyes Closed
- Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
- PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
- RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
