The VMA madness is back, and Taylor Swift has returned with nine nominations, because apparently one potential Moon Person was never going to be enough. After skipping the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, her first absence since 2021, Swift had just one nomination and lost Artist of the Year to Lady Gaga. While she was busy preparing 'The Life of a Showgirl' and spending time with Travis Kelce back then, she has quite the opportunity to dominate the 2026 VMAs.

This year, the pop superstar has a chance to turn that disappointment around, and Swifties are eager to help. Thankfully, there is a simple guide showing exactly how fans can vote for Swift.

Taylor Swift fans, sharpen those clicking fingers because the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have opened the voting gates. Swifties can vote directly through the official MTV VMA Voting Page, with voting closing September 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Eligible fans must be at least 13 years old, and the standard allowance is 10 votes per category each day.

There is also a particularly useful trick hiding in the voting rules. From August 20 through September 24, fans who log in between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. ET enter the daily Power Hour, doubling the allowance to 20 votes per category. That gives Swift supporters a prime opportunity to pile on votes for the pop superstar.

The catch is that Taylor Swift is not publicly votable in all nine VMA categories. Fans can vote for Swift in Video of the Year for 'The Fate of Ophelia,' Artist of the Year, and Best Pop for 'The Fate of Ophelia.' Her other six nominations, including Best Direction for 'Opalite' and five craft categories, are decided by industry professionals rather than fans.

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Although Taylor Swift was snubbed in a major category, she still has to outshine some of her biggest rivals at the VMAs.

Madonna is the clearest threat to Taylor Swift, arriving with a field-leading 11 nominations and the kind of veteran star power that makes an awards race particularly spicy. Her 14-minute 'Confessions II – The Film' puts the pop legend directly alongside Swift in Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, turning their showdown into one of the night’s biggest storylines.

Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande bring younger-generation firepower, with both earning seven nominations and competing against Swift in major fan-voted categories. Bruno Mars adds another formidable challenger with five nods, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, while Morgan Wallen also enters the Artist of the Year race. With Madonna, Carpenter, Grande and Mars crowding the marquee categories, Swift has hardly been handed an easy path to another VMA triumph.

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Have you readied your gear to vote for Taylor Swift at the VMAs this year? Let us know in the comments!