KATSEYE's "PINKY UP" Lands Two MTV VMA Nominations Highlighting Momentum

KATSEYE is looking to take home an MTV Video Music Award for the second consecutive year, earning two nominations for "PINKY UP."

According to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations announced on August 18 local time, "PINKY UP" has been nominated for both Best Choreography and Best K-Pop.

In the Best Choreography category, KATSEYE will compete alongside works from global stars including Harry Styles, Madonna, Tate McRae and Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, the group joins BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM and LISA among this year's Best K-POP nominees.

The pair of nominations recognizes two sides of "PINKY UP," placing its choreography alongside some of pop's biggest names while also acknowledging the track's presence within the global K-POP category.

KATSEYE previously earned its first VMA trophy in 2025 when "Touch" was named PUSH Performance of the Year. The group also took the VMA pre-show stage that year, performing "Gnarly" and "Gabriela."

Released as a pre-release single from KATSEYE's third EP "WILD," "PINKY UP" centers on living boldly in the present. Its performance incorporates a recognizable pinky-raising point move alongside bold hip movements and expressive choreography that emphasizes the group’s confident energy.

The song also proved successful commercially, peaking at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 14 on the UK Official Singles Chart, marking KATSEYE's highest position on the latter chart at the time. The group later brought "PINKY UP" to its Coachella debut on April 10, where the track was met with a strong singalong from the festival crowd.

Momentum has continued with the release of "WILD" on Aug. 14. Pre-release single "Animal" debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the No. 28 debut previously set by "PINKY UP." All five tracks from the EP, including title track "Hootie Frutti," also entered Spotify's Global and U.S. daily charts on the day of the album's release.

The nominations add to a major year for KATSEYE, which previously won three awards at the 2026 American Music Awards, including New Artist of the Year, after earning two nominations at the 68th Grammy Awards.