Yes, MTV still holds its annual Video Music Awards. And this year, rock gets a kick in the face.

MTV doesn’t show videos anymore on any MTV channel anywhere in the world. Yet they persist in holding their annual music video awards, the one (semi-) relevant VMAs.

If you care, Madonna leads with 11 nominations, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Sabrina Carpenter has seven, and Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson has five. Don’t care. Not my jam.

Okay, what about the rock categories? Yeah, about that…

For the first time ever, this year’s event will not have a rock award, although there will be an alternative category. That’s supposed to satisfy everyone.

Right. Here are the nominees. This is what MTV considers the cream of the crop when it comes to alt-rock.

• Geese – “Taxes”
• mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE”
• Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
• Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure”
• SOMBR – “Homewrecker”
• Tame Impala – “Dracula”
• twenty one pilots – “Drag Path”

Where’s the alt-rock that’s not alt-pop? Where’s the hard rock? Where’s the metal? Jeezus.

If you care, the 2026 MTV MVAs will happen September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. A host has yet to be named.