MTV VMAs 2026: Full list of winners and nominees

The red carpet has officially been unrolled for the wildest awards show in entertainment, but the best is yet to come from the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

The VMAs had earned its chaotic reputation long before the artist formerly known as Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech in 2009, and that’s in large part thanks to Madonna. And on Sunday night at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre (Monday morning AEST), the Queen of Pop is gracing the stage and performing at the VMAs for the first time in 23 years.

A quick refresher for the uninitiated: Madonna’s first performance at the VMAs was in 1984, an edgy rendition of Like A Virgin some critics dubbed obscene. She upped the edgy ante in 2003, when she performed the opening medley with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera … and locked lips with them.

It’s not just the Madonna show tonight – though she is nominated 13 times, the most of any artist this year. Fellow VMAs heavy hitter Swift is receiving the inaugural VMA Artist Director Honours, marking her 31st VMA win overall and breaking her tie with Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in the award show’s history (Swift is nominated in nine categories, going up against Madonna in seven of them).

On the Australian front, it’s a little quiet this year. Tame Impala is the only homegrown artist nominated, with Dracula getting a nod in the best alternative category.

Read on to see the full list of winners and nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.