Nigerian Music Stars Burna Boy, Tems Land 2026 MTV VMA Nominations

Prominent Nigerian music talents, Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, and Temilade Openiyi, or Tems, have both received nods for the prestigious 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). These nominations were revealed in anticipation of the main awards ceremony, which is set to hold on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Burna Boy earned a total of two nominations. His collaborative track with Colombian sensation Shakira, titled “Dai Dai,” which serves as the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, secured him a spot in the Best Collaboration category. Here, he faces competition from artists like Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Malice for “Chains & Whips”; French Montana and Max B for “Ever Since U Left Me”; Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter for “Bring Your Love”; PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for “Stateside”; and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye for “Hard Part.” Furthermore, “Dai Dai” also saw Burna Boy nominated in the Best Latin category, where he will vie for the award against Anitta and Shakira; Bad Bunny; Fuerza Regida; Karol G; Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia; and the trio of Ryan Castro, Kapo, and Gangsta.

Meanwhile, Tems was recognized in the Best R&B category for her joint effort with British rapper Dave on their song “Raindance.” This category pits the duo against formidable acts such as Bruno Mars with “I Just Might,” Chris Brown for “It Depends/Obvious,” Justin Bieber’s “Yukon,” Kehlani’s “Folded,” and Mariah the Scientist featuring Kali Uchis for “Is It a Crime.”

Globally, music icon Madonna secured the highest number of nominations for 2026 with an impressive eleven nods, closely followed by pop superstar Taylor Swift, who garnered nine. The entire 2026 VMAs event is slated for live broadcast on CBS, with a simultaneous transmission on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+. Enthusiastic fans have the opportunity to cast their votes daily across most categories until September 25 at 6 p.m. ET. It is important to highlight that the Best Afrobeats category, which was a fixture in earlier VMA editions, has been conspicuously absent from this year’s list of categories.

Below is the comprehensive list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards:

**Full List of 2026 MTV VMA 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 – Bring 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 Smith

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 – RUNWAY

Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

Slayyyter – DANCE…

Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

**Best Latin**

Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka

Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoLFuerza Regida – TU SANCHOKAROL G – Papasito

Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla

Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – LA VILLAShakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

**Best K-Pop**

BLACKPINK – JUMP

BTS – SWIM

CORTIS – RED

REDKATSEYE – 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

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

**Best Choreography**

GENER8ION – STORM sta