VMAs voting opens; Best Latin category voting underway

MTV’s 2026 Video Music Awards voting is now active, and the Best Latin category is one of the open fan-voted races on the network’s official ballot. MTV’s voting site says fans can vote online for nominees ahead of the Sept. 27 ceremony, which is scheduled to air at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The Best Latin ballot includes Anitta & Shakira for “Choka Choka,” Bad Bunny for “NUEVAYoL,” Fuerza Regida for “TU SANCHO,” Karol G for “Papasito,” and Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia for “La Perla,” according to MTV’s voting page and MTV’s social post promoting the category. ### When did voting actually open? (vote.mtv.com) MTV’s official voting rules say the general voting period for “All Categories” began on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern and runs through Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:59 p.m. Eastern. That means voting was already underway before Monday’s social push around the Best Latin nominees. (vote.mtv.com) Monday’s post from the VMAs account functioned as a fresh promotional push for the Latin field rather than the first day of the overall ballot. MTV’s site directs users to vote through vote.mtv.com. ### Who is in the Best Latin field? The Best Latin category on MTV’s voting site includes several of the biggest names in Spanish-language and crossover pop. (mtv.com) MTV’s materials list Anitta & Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, Karol G and Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia among the nominees currently presented to voters. (vote.mtv.com) Bad Bunny’s inclusion adds another VMA ballot appearance for an artist with a long history at the show, while Shakira, Karol G and Rosalía also return as familiar names in MTV’s Latin-facing categories. MTV’s page presents the race as part of the broader 2026 nominee slate. ### How many times can fans vote? MTV’s rules say voters can cast up to 10 votes per person, per category, per day during the general voting period. (vote.mtv.com) The same rules note exceptions for designated “Power Hours” and “Double Days,” when vote totals can be increased under special promotional windows. (vote.mtv.com) The rules also say voters must be at least 13 years old and cannot be employees, agents or representatives of Paramount or related companies. MTV lists all times in Eastern Time. ### Are all categories handled the same way? MTV’s rules say most categories are voted online at vote.mtv.com, but not every category follows the same timetable or platform. (mtv.com) Best New Artist remains open until immediately before the on-air award announcement on Sept. 27, while Song of Summer and Best Group are slated for Instagram Stories voting later in September. That makes Best Latin part of the main online ballot, not one of the later Instagram-only categories. MTV’s voting page places it alongside the rest of the standard nominee fields. ### What happens next before the show? Sunday, Sept. 27, is the next fixed date on MTV’s calendar for the 2026 VMAs. MTV’s site says the ceremony will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+, with general voting set to close two days earlier on Sept. 25 for most categories. (mtv.com) For now, the immediate next step is straightforward: fans can keep voting in Best Latin and the other open categories on MTV’s official ballot until the general voting window closes. (vote.mtv.com 1) (vote.mtv.com 2)