The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations Are Here!
On August 18, MTV unveiled this year’s highly anticipated VMAs nominees, with several major K-pop artists earning spots in multiple categories.
BLACKPINK’s LISA received an impressive four solo nominations for her ‘Dream’ music video featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi, including Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. BLACKPINK’s ‘JUMP’ also received a Best K-Pop nomination, while JISOO X ZAYN’s ‘Eyes Closed’ is nominated for Best Visual Effects.
POP is officially in orbit 🪐🎶✨ Meet your 2026 #VMA Best Pop nominees!!!
⭐️ Ariana Grande: hate that i made you love me
⭐️ @charli_xcx: SS26
⭐️ LISA: Dream ft. @kentaro_s_711
⭐️ @oliviarodrigo: drop dead
⭐️ @SabrinaAnnLynn: House Tour
⭐️ @tatemcrae: Nobody’s Girl
⭐️… pic.twitter.com/gfO5J5Tpkz— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 19, 2026
BTS’ ‘SWIM’ received two nominations for Song of the Year and Best K-Pop, while HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden’ from the hit animated film ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is also nominated for Song of the Year.
All of these songs are hits in my book, but only one can take home the #VMA for Song of the Year 👀🎶
⭐️ @bts_bighit: Swim
⭐️ @ellalangleymsic: Choosin’ Texas
⭐️ HUNTR/X: EJAE, @audreynuna & @reiamimami: Golden
⭐️ @Madonna & @SabrinaAnnLynn: Bring Your Love
⭐️ @oliviadeano: Man… pic.twitter.com/ctF7LA1sLN— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 18, 2026
CORTIS also made its VMA debut with two nominations for Best New Artist and Best K-Pop for ‘REDRED’. KATSEYE’s ‘PINKY UP’ earned nominations for Best Choreography and Best K-Pop, while LE SSERAFIM joined the Best K-Pop lineup with ‘SPAGHETTI’, featuring BTS’ j-hope.
The 2026 #VMAs nominees have landed – and one of these noms will take home Best New Artist 💌🔭
⭐️ Bella Kay
⭐️ @cortis_bighit
⭐️ Magnus Ferrell
⭐️ Malcolm Todd
⭐️ @MylesSmithUK
⭐️ @sienna_spiro
⭐️ @stellaleftyKeep voting each day at https://t.co/vXgxRKSLWp before the… pic.twitter.com/23zU4UJvqA
— MTV (@MTV) August 18, 2026
My job: announce the Best K-Pop nominees at the 2026 #VMAs 🤝 Your job: VOTE FOR A WINNER 🥇☄️
⭐️ @BLACKPINK: JUMP
⭐️ @bts_bighit: SWIM
⭐️ @cortis_bighit: REDRED
⭐️ @katseyeworld: Pinky Up
⭐️ @le_sserafim (ft. j-hope of @bts_bighit): SPAGHETTI
⭐️ LISA: Dream ft. @kentaro_s_711… pic.twitter.com/IQvHHe4pFI— MTV (@MTV) August 19, 2026
Fans can cast their votes until September 25 at 6 PM ET (September 26 at 3:30 AM IST), while voting for the Best New Artist category will remain open until the live show.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place live from Los Angeles on September 27 at 7:30 PM ET (5:00 AM IST on September 28).
Written by: Aanchal Pathak
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