BTS and Lisa Shine as Top K-pop Nominees at 2026 MTV VMAs

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are really leaning into the K-pop craze this year. BTS is back in the spotlight, grabbing nominations for Song of the Year and Best K-pop with their single “Swim.” It’s been four years since they last showed up at the VMAs, so seeing them up for one of the night’s biggest awards, right next to names like Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo, feels pretty huge.

Lisa from BLACKPINK is having a massive year too. She’s the most-nominated K-pop artist at the VMAs, scoring four nods for her solo track “Dream” off her debut album Alter Ego. The song got recognized for Best Pop, Best K-pop, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. Her music video even features Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, which adds another layer to her solo launch.

There’s also a new group, Cortis, turning heads. They landed spots in both Best New Artist and Best K-pop thanks to their track “RedRed.” Other K-pop acts in the mix include BLACKPINK with “Jump,” LE SSERAFIM teaming up with J-Hope for “Spaghetti,” Katseye’s “Pinky Up,” and Jisoo’s duet with Zayn Malik, “Eyes Closed,” up for Best Visual Effects.

The show’s set for September 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Madonna leads the pack with 11 nominations, and Taylor Swift isn't far behind with nine. Fans around the world can cast their votes up until September 25.

All in all, this year’s VMAs really drive home how far K-pop’s reach has grown. With BTS and Lisa leading the charge, the genre’s global takeover shows no signs of slowing down.