The category, which was introduced only three years ago to acknowledge the growing international presence of African music, has disappeared from the 2026 nominations without an immediate explanation from MTV.

Since announcing this year’s nominees, the network has not released an official statement clarifying why the category was removed.

Best Afrobeats made its debut at the VMAs in 2023, at a time when Afrobeats was experiencing a significant surge in global popularity. Rema and Selena Gomez claimed the inaugural award with their international hit “Calm Down.”

The following two editions saw South African star Tyla take control of the category. She won in 2024 with “Water” before securing the award again in 2025 for “Push 2 Start.”

The decision to remove the category comes as Afrobeats continues to enjoy strong international visibility and influence. African artists have still appeared among the 2026 nominees, with Burna Boy earning a Best Collaboration nomination for his work with Shakira, while Tems received recognition in the Best R&B category.

However, the absence of a dedicated Afrobeats award has generated debate about how the VMAs intend to represent the genre going forward, particularly given its growing presence in mainstream global music.

Best Rock Also Removed

Afrobeats is not the only genre-specific category to disappear from this year’s nominations.

MTV has also eliminated the Best Rock category, which has appeared in different forms at the VMAs since 1989. Rock performers will instead compete under the broader Best Alternative classification.

The changes could point towards an effort by MTV to consolidate several genre-specific awards into wider categories, although the network has yet to confirm whether that is the reason behind the restructuring.

For now, the removal of Best Afrobeats has left fans and observers questioning why a category created to reflect the genre’s international rise has been discontinued at a time when African music continues to make significant strides globally.

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Madonna leads the nomination race with 11 nods, marking her biggest haul in VMA history. Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each picked up seven.

Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson are also among the leading contenders, with five nominations each as they compete across several major categories.

The 2026 MTV VMAs are scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, with the ceremony set to take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

Full list of 2026 VMAs nominees

The full list of nominations:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “Storm Starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- Island
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Madonna – Warner Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Raye – “Where Is My Husband!!” – Human Re Sources

BEST NEW ARTIST
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
Cortis – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

BEST COLLABORATION
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “Drop Dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion – “Lover Girl” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott – “Dumbo” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, the Creator – “Sugar on My Tongue” – Columbia Records

BEST R&B
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber – “Yukon” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
MGK & Fred Durst – “Fix Ur Face” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “The Cure” – Geffen Records
Sombr – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
Twenty One Pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

BEST DANCE
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “Runaway” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter – “Dance…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

BEST LATIN
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Fuerza Regida – “Tu Sancho” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
Karol G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta- “La Villa” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

BEST K-POP
Blackpink – “Jump” – YG Entertainment
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Cortis – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Katseye – “Pinky Up” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (feat. J-Hope of BTS) – “Spaghetti” – SOURCE MUSIC
Lisa- “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

BEST COUNTRY
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records

BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “Storm starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records

BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “Runway” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Sombr – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
A$AP Rocky – “Punk Rocky” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

BEST EDITING
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
GENER8ION – “Storm starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
Katseye – “Pinky Up” – Hybe x Geffen Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Jisoo X Zayn – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Raye ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

How to Vote for the 2026 MTV VMAs

Fans will have the opportunity to influence the outcome by voting through MTV’s official online voting platform.

Voting is available across 13 fan-selected categories and will remain open until September 25 at 6 p.m. ET. The Best New Artist category is the exception, as voting for that award will continue until the live ceremony.

Steps to Vote

• Visit the official MTV VMA voting platform.
• Select the award category you want to vote in.
• Pick your preferred nominee.
• Follow the instructions provided to submit your vote.
• Return to the platform to vote in other eligible categories.

With several major artists competing for top honours, the 2026 VMAs are shaping up to be another closely watched celebration of music, videos and pop culture.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on 2026 MTV VMAs: Nominees, Date and How to Vote.

The date and location of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards have been revealed by MTV and the yearly awards, also referred to as the VMAs, will be shown live in South Africa on September 13 at 2am.

The MTV channel hosts the VMAs, an awards programme that recognises the top music videos.

According to an announcement from MTV, the 2023 VMAs will air live in more than 150 countries from New Jersey’s renowned Prudential Centre on Tuesday, September 12.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the Prudential Center in Newark for this year’s VMAs!” Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+, said in a statement. “Celebrating one of our biggest nights in music with the Garden State’s incredible fans has been our goal since last year’s highly successful event.”

Meanwhile, Finally, Cassper Nyovest revealed the name of his album and the day it will be released, the rapper has discussed the project and provided an explanation for its postponement for months.

He informed his supporters a few days ago that he’s going to be…..!

“decided on an album release date today. We got 1 uncleared sample, might have to change the beat but yeah, I just wanna share the music now cause it’s therapy for me and I got a lot to talk about. Hope y’all dig it. The album title, date, cover, and single soon.”

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