Burna Boy, Tems earn 2026 MTV VMAs nominations (Full List)

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Nigerian Afrobeats stars Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, and Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, have secured nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

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The nominations were announced on Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27.

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Burna Boy received two nominations for his collaboration with Colombian singer Shakira on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, “Dai Dai.”

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The Grammy-winning singer is nominated in the Best Collaboration category, where he faces 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.”

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“Dai Dai” also earned Burna Boy a nomination in the Best Latin category.

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He will compete against Anitta and Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, Karol G, Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia, and Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta.

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Tems, meanwhile, received a Best R&B nomination for her collaboration with British rapper Dave on “Raindance.”

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The duo will compete against Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” Chris Brown’s “It Depends/Obvious,” Justin Bieber’s “Yukon,” Kehlani’s “Folded,” and Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis’ “Is It a Crime.”

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Madonna leads the 2026 nominations with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows with nine.

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The 2026 VMAs will be broadcast live on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+.

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Fans can vote in most categories daily until September 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

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Notably, the Best Afrobeats category, which featured in previous editions of the awards, is not included in this year’s nominations.

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South African singer Tyla won the category in 2025 with “Push 2 Start”, defeating Nigerian nominees Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Tems and Asake.

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Tyla had also won the award in 2024 for “Water”, while Rema and Selena Gomez claimed the inaugural Best Afrobeats award in 2023 for “Calm Down.”

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The MTV VMAs, established in 1984, recognise outstanding music videos, songs and artists and are traditionally associated with the iconic Moonperson trophy.

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Full list of 2026 MTV VMA nominees

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Video of the Year

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Ariana Grande – Hate that I made you love me

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Bruno Mars – I Just Might

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GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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Sabrina Carpenter – Tears

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Artist of the Year

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Ariana Grande

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Bruno Mars

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Madonna

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Morgan Wallen

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Sabrina Carpenter

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Taylor Swift

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Song of the Year

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BTS – Swim

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Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas

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HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – Golden

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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love

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Olivia Dean – Man I Need

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PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

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RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!

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Best New Artist

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Bella Kay

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CORTIS

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Magnus Ferrell

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Malcolm Todd

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Myles Smith

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Sienna Spiro

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Stella Lefty

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Best Collaboration

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Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips

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French Montana x Max B – Ever Since U Left Me

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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love

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PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

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Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

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Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part

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Best Pop

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Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me

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Charli xcx – SS26

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LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi

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Olivia Rodrigo – drop dead

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Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour

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Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Best Hip-Hop

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Cardi B ft. Kehlani – Safe

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Don Toliver – E85

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Drake – Janice STFU

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Megan Thee Stallion – LOVER GIRL

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Travis Scott – DUMBO

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Tyler, The Creator – SUGAR ON MY TONGUE

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Best R&B

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Bruno Mars – I Just Might

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Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious

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Dave & Tems – Raindance

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Justin Bieber – YUKON

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Kehlani – Folded

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Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime

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Best Alternative

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Geese – Taxes

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mgk & Fred Durst – FIX UR FACE

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Noah Kahan – The Great Divide

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Olivia Rodrigo – the cure

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SOMBR – Homewrecker

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Tame Impala – Dracula

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twenty one pilots – Drag Path

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Best Dance

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Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion

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Harry Styles – Aperture

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Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

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Slayyyter – DANCE…

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Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

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Best Latin

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Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka

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Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL

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Fuerza Regida – TU SANCHO

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KAROL G – Papasito

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Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla

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Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – LA VILLA

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Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

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Best K-Pop

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BLACKPINK – JUMP

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BTS – SWIM

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CORTIS – REDRED

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KATSEYE – PINKY UP

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LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – SPAGHETTI

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LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi

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Best Country

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Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas

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Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell

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Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo

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Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle

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Shaboozey – Cowgirl

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Stella Lefty – Boston

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Tucker Wetmore – Brunette

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Best Direction

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Ariana Grande – Hate that I made you love me

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Bruno Mars – I Just Might

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GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour

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Taylor Swift – Opalite

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Best Art Direction

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Charli xcx – SS26

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Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

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SOMBR – My Body Isn’t Ready

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Best Cinematography

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A$AP Rocky – PUNK ROCKY

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Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me

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LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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Shaboozey – Cowgirl

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Best Editing

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Ariana Grande – Hate that I made you love me

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Bruno Mars – I Just Might

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LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Best Choreography

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GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean

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Harry Styles – Dance No More

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KATSEYE – PINKY UP

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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Best Visual Effects

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Ariana Grande – Hate that I made you love me

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JISOO X ZAYN – Eyes Closed

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Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

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PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson

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RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony.

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Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

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