Burna Boy & Tems Dominate 2026 MTV VMA Noms with Three Each!

The highly anticipated nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have been officially announced, spotlighting a diverse array of global talent. This year, Nigerian music is notably represented by two of its biggest stars, Burna Boy and Tems, who have collectively earned three nominations across various categories. The prestigious ceremony is slated to take place on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, promising an evening of star-studded performances and recognition of the year's most impactful music videos.

Burna Boy has secured two significant nominations for his collaborative track “Dai Dai” with global pop icon Shakira. Their joint effort is recognized in both the Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories, highlighting the song's widespread appeal and cross-genre success. Meanwhile, Tems has earned a nomination in the Best R&B category for “Raindance,” her collaboration with British-Nigerian rapper Dave. These nominations underscore the growing influence of Nigerian artists on the international music scene, carrying the country's flag in genre-specific and collaborative categories.

Beyond Nigeria, the broader African and diaspora music communities also show a strong presence across the VMA lineup. Artists such as PinkPantheress, who scored five nominations for “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” RAYE with two nods, Shaboozey appearing in Best Country and Best Cinematography, Tyler, the Creator in Best Hip-Hop, and French Montana with a Best Collaboration nomination, all contribute to the rich and varied international representation at this year's awards.

One of the most discussed changes in the 2026 MTV VMA nominations is the notable absence of the Best Afrobeats category. This category, which was first introduced in 2023, has celebrated three distinct winners in its short history. Rema and Selena Gomez made history by winning the inaugural award for “Calm Down” in 2023. South African star Tyla followed, securing the award in 2024 for “Water” and repeating her success in 2025 with “Push 2 Start,” making her a two-time MTV Video Music Award winner in the category. The decision to remove this category has sparked considerable discussion within the global music community, particularly among fans who have championed Afrobeats' rise.

The Best Afrobeats category is not the only one missing from this year’s announcement. Several other categories, including Best Rock, Best Pop Artist, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Video for Good, Best Long-Form Video, Best Group, and Song of the Summer, are also absent from the 2026 slate. Conversely, the Best Dance category makes a welcome return to the VMAs after a seven-year hiatus, reflecting evolving trends in music video recognition.

Leading the pack for overall nominations is the legendary Madonna, who has amassed an impressive 11 nods. Close behind is pop superstar Taylor Swift with nine nominations. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each garnered seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson all received five nominations apiece, showcasing a strong field of artists contending for the coveted Moon Person trophies.

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards:

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 and REI AMI — “Golden”

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”

Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”

PinkPantheress and 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 and Malice — “Chains & Whips”

French Montana and Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”

PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”

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” featuring 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 featuring 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 and 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 — “RUNAWAY”

Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”

PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”

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 featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia — “La Perla”

Ryan Castro, Kapo and GANGSTA — “LA VILLA”

Shakira and Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”

Best K-Pop

BLACKPINK — “JUMP”

BTS — “SWIM”

CORTIS — “REDRED”

KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”

LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS — “SPAGHETTI”

LISA — “Dream” featuring 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 — “RUNAWAY”

Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”

PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”

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” featuring 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” featuring 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 and ZAYN — “Eyes Closed”

Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”

PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”

RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer — “Click Clack Symphony”

Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”