MTV and CBS announced on September 18 the nominees for four additional social categories at the 2026 MTV VMAs. For K-pop followers, the biggest additions are Best Group, where BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS and KATSEYE are among eight nominees, and Song of Summer, where KATSEYE competes with “Hootie Frutti” and JENNIE appears with Tame Impala on “Dracula.” The most important voting detail is that these categories do not use the same daily ballot as the regular categories: voting takes place through the @MTV Instagram Stories during specific windows.
What changed at the 2026 VMAs
The official CBS and MTV release announced four social categories: Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album and Song of Summer. All of them will be decided through fan voting on the @MTV Story. This is separate from the main awards ballot at vote.mtv.com, where several regular categories use a system of up to 10 votes per day.
On September 19, the main voting page still listed Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album and Song of Summer as “Stay tuned!” Therefore, the website's rule of up to 10 daily votes should not automatically be applied to these four social categories. For Best Group and Song of Summer, the specific Instagram format and schedule announced by MTV are the relevant instructions.
Best Group and Song of Summer: dates and voting format
| Category | K-pop related highlights | Official window | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Group | BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS and KATSEYE | Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. ET. In Brasília: noon on Sept. 21 through noon on Sept. 24. | Three bracket-style rounds. The final round uses tap-to-vote on the @MTV Story. |
| Song of Summer | KATSEYE with “Hootie Frutti” and Tame Impala & JENNIE with “Dracula” | Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. ET. In Brasília: noon on Sept. 26 through noon on Sept. 27. | One round, with tap-to-vote on the @MTV Story. |
Best Group nominees
- BLACKPINK
- BTS
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- Twenty One Pilots
The lineup is especially relevant to K-pop audiences because four names highlighted by Korean entertainment coverage are competing in the same category. Soompi also noted that BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS and KATSEYE already had other nominations at this year's VMAs, including appearances in Best K-Pop.
Song of Summer nominees
- Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
- Bruno Mars, “Risk It All”
- Charli xcx, “Camera”
- Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
- KATSEYE, “Hootie Frutti”
- Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy”
- Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now”
- Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
- Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song”
- Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
- Slayyyter, “brand new chanel$”
- SOMBR, “Homewrecker”
- Stella Lefty, “Boston”
- Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula”
- Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You”
In this category, the clearest K-pop connections are KATSEYE and JENNIE, the BLACKPINK member who is nominated for her collaboration with Tame Impala.
How to vote without mixing up the social categories and the main ballot
- When the category opens, go to @MTV in the Instagram app and open the active Story.
- For Best Group, follow the bracket matchups across the three rounds. Because the contest advances in stages, voters may need to return for later rounds.
- In the final Best Group round, tap the option indicated in the Story to register the vote.
- For Song of Summer, voting takes place in a single round with a direct tap on the Story.
- Use vote.mtv.com for the regular categories shown on the web ballot, not as an automatic substitute for the Story-based social categories.
Schedule for all four social categories
- Best Group: Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. ET.
- Best Long Form Video: Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. ET.
- Best Album: Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. ET.
- Song of Summer: Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. ET through Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. ET.
These times come from the official release and use U.S. Eastern Time. In September 2026, Brasília is one hour ahead.
When the awards take place
The 2026 MTV VMAs are scheduled for September 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. The release says the show will air live in the United States on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ Premium, with global availability the next day on Paramount+ and MTV. That distribution note does not, by itself, confirm a live broadcast in Brazil.
