Madonna Leads 2026 VMA Nominations with 11 Nods, Taylor Swift Follows with 9

Madonna has landed 11 nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), making her the most-nominated artist of this year's edition. Taylor Swift follows with 9 nominations, while New York band Geese picked up 1. The news was reported by Pitchfork on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Nomination Count

• Madonna: 11 nominations
• Taylor Swift: 9 nominations
• Geese: 1 nomination

What Hasn't Been Announced

The specific categories each artist is nominated in have not been detailed in the report. The date and location of the ceremony itself have also not yet been announced.

Reading the List

Madonna and Taylor Swift occupy the top two spots on this year's nominations tally, together accounting for 20 nominations between them. Geese stands out as one of the indie acts to break into this year's list, earning a single nomination.