Taylor Swift is up for nine Moon Persons at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, including two of the night's biggest prizes.
Swift earned nominations for video of the year and artist of the year, according to the list announced Aug 17. "The Fate of Ophelia"
is also nominated for best pop, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects. She also picked up a best direction nomination for "Opalite."Swift enters the ceremony with 30 competitive VMA wins, the most of any artist in the show's history. She trails only Madonna in this year's nominations. The Material Girl herself leads with 11 nods.
The full list of Swift's nine nominations and her competition in each category are below. No word (yet) if she'll attend the ceremony.
When are the VMAs?
The 2026 VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+. Fan voting is open through Sept. 25 for 13 categories.
Who is Taylor Swift competing against at the 2026 VMAs?
Here are all nine categories in which "The Life of a Showgirl" singer-songwriter is nominated and the other nominees in each:
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
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 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: "RUNAWAY"
- 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 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 visual effects:
- Ariana Grande: "hate that i made you love me"
- JISOO X ZAYN: "Eyes Closed"
- Madonna: "Confessions II - The Film"
- PinkPantheress: "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
- RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer: "Click Clack Symphony."
- Taylor Swift: "The Fate of Ophelia"
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift earns 9 VMA noms for 'The Life of a Showgirl' songs
