Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
The best and most influential music videos and pop culture moments in the music industry will soon be honoured at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.
The VMAs will take place on Monday for fans in Australia and will be streamed on Paramount Plus from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
From Madonna opening the ceremony for the first time in two decades to Ariana Grande’s hit song Hate That I Made You Love Me receiving multiple nominations, the night is set to be jam-packed with big wins and all-star entertainment.
Who’s hosting this year’s VMAs?
Snoop Dogg will be hosting the event this year, taking to the stage where he has won three awards in the past.
The 13-time VMAs nominee spoke about his hosting duties in a media statement, saying that MTV and the VMAs have been part of his story since the beginning.
“Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV — they gave hip hop a place to be loud, fearless and seen by the whole world. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me.”
Who’s performing?
Madonna will open the VMAs with her first performance at the awards show in 23 years. Her last performance was the memorable 2003 opening performance alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Kasey Musgraves will also perform a tribute piece to the late Dolly Parton with Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims also taking to the stage to honour George Michael.
Gener8ion and Yung Lean, Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey and Gunna and Sienna Spiro are also expected to perform throughout the night
Which artist has the most nominations?
Madonna leads this year’s nominees with 11. She’s already been awarded 19 VMAs throughout her career, plus the Video Vanguard Award she received in 1986.
Who is receiving the 2026 Video Vanguard Award?
Nirvana. The band made their MTV VMAs debut in 1992. They will be the first band to receive the honour since Duran Duran in 2003.
Who is receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honours?
Taylor Swift will be honoured with the new award which recognises “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling”.
Who are the 2026 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
Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami — Golden from KPop Demon Hunters
Madonna and 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, and Malice — Chains & Whips
French Montana x Max B — Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress — Stateside + Zara Larsson
Shakira and Burna Boy — Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye — Hard Part
Best Pop
Ariana Grande — Hate That I Made You Love Me
Charli XCX — SS26
Lisa — 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 — Safe
Don 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 and Kali Uchis — Is It a Crime
Best Alternative
Geese — Taxes
MGK and 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 and Faithless — New Religion
Harry Styles — Aperture
Lady Gaga and 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 — NUEVAYoL
Fuerza Regida — Tu Sancho
Karol G — Papasito
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia — La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta — La Villa
Shakira and 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 and 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
Asap 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
Fans can also vote across four social categories including Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album and Song of the Summer.
