Overview
- MTV's official 2026 nominees list omits the Best Rock category, removing a specific rock prize that the ceremony has given in various forms for nearly four decades.
- Independent reporting says Best Rock appears to have been folded into the Best Alternative lineup, but MTV and parent company Paramount have not issued an official explanation.
- The nominees release also excludes Best Afrobeats and Song of Summer, and public voting for most categories opened this month with the ceremony set for September 27 in Los Angeles.
- The announcement has generated widespread online reaction from fans who view the move as a symbolic narrowing of rock's visibility at mainstream awards shows.
- Rock's VMA recognition began in the late 1980s as Best Heavy Metal Video and evolved through several name changes, with Coldplay the last winner in 2025 and Madonna now leading 2026 nominations.