BTS, HUNTR/X, Lisa lead K-pop nominees at 2026 MTV VMAs

BTS’s “Swim” and fictional girl group HUNTR/X’s “Golden” (2025) have been nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), according to MTV on Tuesday.

“Swim” is the lead track of BTS’s latest full-length album “Arirang,” and “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, appears on the soundtrack of Netflix’s hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025).

The two songs are competing with Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love,” Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” (2025), PinkPantheress’s “Stateside + Zara Larsson” (2025) and Raye’s “Where is My Husband!” for the award. 

Blackpink’s Lisa earned a total of four nominations — the most of any K-pop artist on this year’s VMAs ballot — for Best Pop, Best K-pop, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

HYBE’s rookie boy band Cortis was nominated for Best New Artist, and “Eyes Closed,” a collaboration between Blackpink’s Jisoo and Zayn Milk, was nominated for Best Visual Effects. 

Katseye’s “Pinky Up” was nominated for both Best K-pop and Best Choreography. 

A total of six songs were nominated for the Best K-pop category: Blackpink’s “Jump,” BTS’s “Swim,” Cortis’s “RedRed,” Katseye’s “Pinky Up,” Le Sserafim’s “Spaghetti (feat. j-hope of BTS)” and Lisa’s “Dream (feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi).” 

No K-pop artists were named for the Video of the Year and Artist of the Year awards. 

Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year at the 2025 VMAs for “APT.” (2024).

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]