Nigerian stars Tems and Burna Boy have earned nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), joining a lineup of global superstars vying for top honors.
In the nominations announced Tuesday, pop icon Madonna leads the pack with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter also stand out, each securing seven nominations.
Tems is recognized in the ‘Best R&B’ category for her collaboration with Dave on the single ‘Raindance’. Burna Boy landed two nominations: ‘Best Collaboration’ and ‘Best Latin’ for his World Cup anthem ‘Dai Dai’ with Shakira.
However, an investigation by TheCable reveals that several categories are missing from this year’s nominations, including ‘Best Afrobeats’. Other omitted categories are ‘Best Rock’, ‘Best Pop Artist’, ‘Push Performance of the Year’, ‘Best Album’, ‘Video for Good’, ‘Best Long-form Video’, ‘Best Group’, and ‘Song of Summer’.
The ‘Best Afrobeats’ category, introduced in 2023 for African artists, notably Nigerian acts, is absent this year. Rema won the inaugural award in 2023, with Tyla taking the prize in both 2024 and 2025.
Voting for the 2026 VMAs opens Wednesday and runs until September 25 for most categories. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, USA.
Below is the full list of 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”
HUNTR/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – ‘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 Smit
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 – “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 & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – “Taxes”
MGK & 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 – “Runaway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Slayyyter – “Dance…”
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 & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
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 K-POP
Blackpink – “Jump” – YG Entertainment
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” – Atlantic Records
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”
