2026 VMAs Reveal Social Voting Categories: Best Group, Best Album, Song of Summer & More

The countdown to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards continues with another round of nominations — this time putting fans directly into the voting process.

CBS and MTV have announced nominees for four VMA social categories: Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album and Song of Summer.

Voting for the four categories will take place through MTV’s official Instagram Story beginning September 21 and continuing through the morning of September 27, the day of the ceremony.

Best Group

Voting begins Monday, September 21 at 11:00 AM ET and runs through Thursday, September 24 at 11:00 AM ET.

The category will be decided through three rounds of bracket-style fan voting on MTV’s Instagram Story.

• •BLACKPINK
• •BTS
• •CORTIS
• •FLO
• •Fuerza Regida
• •Geese
• •KATSEYE
• •Twenty One Pilots

Best Long Form Video

Voting begins Thursday, September 24 at 11:00 AM ET and closes Friday, September 25 at 11:00 AM ET.

• •Charli xcx — “Music, Fashion, Film”
• •Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
• •GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• •Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”

Best Album

Voting begins Friday, September 25 at 11:00 AM ET and closes Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 AM ET.

• •Drake — “Iceman”
• •Madonna — “Confessions II”
• •Olivia Dean — “The Art of Loving”
• •Olivia Rodrigo — “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love”

Song of Summer

Voting begins Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 AM ET and closes Sunday, September 27 at 11:00 AM ET.

• •Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• •Bruno Mars — “Risk It All”
• •Charli xcx — “Camera”
• •Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
• •KATSEYE — “Hootie Frutti”
• •Latto ft. Doja Cat — “Okayyy”
• •Morgan Wallen — “Been by Now”
• •Olivia Dean — “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
• •Olivia Rodrigo — “Stupid Song”
• •Tame Impala & JENNIE — “Dracula”
• •Taylor Swift — “I Knew It, I Knew You”

Madonna Leads the Nominations

Madonna, who is scheduled to open the 2026 VMAs, leads this year’s field with 13 nominations.

Taylor Swift follows with 11 nominations, while other leading nominees include Sabrina Carpenter with nine, Ariana Grande with eight and Bruno Mars with six.

The newly announced social categories add another interactive element to the final stretch before the ceremony, allowing fans to participate directly in determining several VMA winners.

How to Vote

Voting for these categories will take place through the official MTV Instagram Story.

The 2026 VMAs

Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, September 27 from 7:30–9:30 PM ET / 4:30–6:30 PM PT on CBS.

The ceremony will be simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ Premium in the United States.

Additional performers, presenters and special guests are expected to be announced as the ceremony approaches.

Road to the 2026 VMAs

Urban Global Entertainment & Media continues its remote editorial coverage of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, following nominations, performers, voting, music, culture, fashion and major developments leading into the September 27 ceremony.

Continue the coverage → Road to the 2026 VMAs