Madonna Leads 2027 MTV VMA Nominations

The queen of pop is poised to reclaim her throne. Dominating this year’s MTV Video Music Awards nominations is not Taylor Swift, but the legendary Madonna, securing the top spot for the third time in her illustrious career.

Madonna has clinched 11 nominations for the upcoming ceremony, including coveted categories like artist of the year and video of the year, all attributed to the success of her chart-topping album Confessions II and its corresponding film.

Outshining Taylor Swift, who holds the record for most VMA wins as a solo artist, Madonna’s feat is remarkable. Swift amassed nine nominations for her album The Life of a Showgirl and the music video for The Fate of Ophelia, placing her behind in this year’s race. Following closely are Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, each with seven nominations.

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Déjà vu

Madonna previously led the pack in VMA nominations in 1990 and 1998 during her Vogue and Ray of Light eras. However, her iconic status at the VMAs is most notably linked to her groundbreaking performance at the inaugural 1984 ceremony, where she stunned audiences in a wedding dress and “Boy Toy” belt buckle while delivering a mesmerizing rendition of Like a Virgin.

This performance is etched in history as a defining moment that pushed the boundaries of cable television standards.

Madonna’s nominations span categories such as video of the year, artist of the year, and song and collaboration of the year for Bring Your Love, a track featuring fellow nominee Carpenter.

Competing for the prestigious video of the year award are Madonna’s Confessions, Swift’s Ophelia, Grande’s Hate That I Made You Love Me, Carpenter’s Tears, Mars’s I Just Might, and Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s Storm.

Voting for 13 categories is open to the public this year, with winners set to be unveiled at the live broadcast of the ceremony on September 27, airing on CBS, MTV, and streaming on Paramount+.