The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are officially out, and K-pop fans have plenty to celebrate. BTS, BLACKPINK, and other major K-pop acts have secured multiple nods across key categories, making this one of the biggest years for the genre at the VMAs. With fan voting now open, here is everything you need to know about the K-pop nominations, voting schedule, and how to cast your votes.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place on September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will broadcast live on CBS, MTV, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S., with global availability the next day. Madonna leads all nominees with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. But K-pop artists have made a strong showing, with Lisa from BLACKPINK earning four nominations, the most among K-pop acts.
K-Pop Nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs
This year’s VMAs feature a strong K-pop presence across multiple categories. Here is the complete list of K-pop nominations.
Song of the Year
- BTS – “SWIM”
Best Pop
- Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best K-Pop
- BLACKPINK – “JUMP”
- BTS – “SWIM”
- CORTIS – “REDRED”
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
- LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI”
- Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best New Artist
- CORTIS
Best Cinematography
- Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best Editing
- Lisa – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best Choreography
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
Best Visual Effects
- Jisoo X Zayn – “Eyes Closed”
BTS earned two nominations for their track “SWIM” – Song of the Year and Best K-Pop. The group shared their excitement on social media, posting: “So excited to be nominated for ‘Song of the Year’ & ‘Best K-Pop’ at the 2026 #VMAs! #BTSARMY, thank you for all your endless love and support”.
Lisa leads all K-pop artists with four solo nominations for “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. Her bandmate Jisoo also secured a nomination in Best Visual Effects for “Eyes Closed,” her collaboration with Zayn.
Rookie boy group CORTIS made an impressive debut with two nominations – Best New Artist and Best K-Pop for “REDRED”. The five-member group wrote on X: “What a moment. can’t believe we’re VMAs nominees”. KATSEYE also earned two nominations for Best K-Pop and Best Choreography with “PINKY UP”, while LE SSERAFIM secured a Best K-Pop nod for “SPAGHETTI” featuring j-hope of BTS.
How to Vote for the 2026 MTV VMAs
Fan voting is a crucial part of the VMAs, and this year fans can vote in 13 categories. The official voting platform is vote.mtv.com.
Voting Schedule
- Voting opened on August 18, 2026
- Voting closes on September 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET (10:00 PM UK time)
- Best New Artist voting remains open during the live broadcast until the winner is announced
Voting Limits
- Currently, fans can cast up to 20 votes per category per day
- After the initial period, the limit may reduce to 10 votes per category
Double Voting Days
- August 18, August 19, and September 25 are Double Days – votes count double
- Power Hour runs daily from 1:00-2:00 PM ET from August 20 through September 24 – votes count double during this hour
Step-by-Step Voting Guide
- Go to vote.mtv.com
- Log in using your email or Google account
- Browse the available categories – Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best R&B, Best Hip-Hop, Best Alternative, Best Latino, and Best K-Pop
- Select your favorite nominee in each category
- Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm your vote
- You can return to different categories and vote for your favorites multiple times
Broadcast and Streaming Details
The 2026 MTV VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
U.S. Viewers
- CBS (6:30-8:30 PM CT)
- MTV
- Paramount+ (live stream)
International Viewers
- Available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV
- Check local listings for regional broadcast details
Related:
What Makes This Year’s K-Pop Nominations Special
This year marks several milestones for K-pop at the VMAs. Lisa became the most-nominated K-pop artist in a single year with four nods. CORTIS and KATSEYE earned their first-ever VMA nominations. BTS continues its legacy with a Song of the Year nomination, one of the ceremony’s top honors.
BLACKPINK also secured a Best K-Pop nomination for “JUMP” alongside Lisa’s solo entry. The group’s presence across both group and solo categories shows their continued global influence.
Fans around the world are already mobilizing to support their favorite artists. With voting now open and multiple ways to make votes count double, the competition is expected to be fierce. The VMAs have a history of celebrating K-pop’s global impact, and 2026 looks set to continue that tradition.
Make sure to visit vote.mtv.com daily and use the Power Hour and Double Days to maximize your votes. Every vote counts, and with the K-pop category featuring six strong contenders, fan support could make all the difference.
For more updates on the 2026 MTV VMAs and the latest K-pop news, stay connected with VvipTimes.
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