The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards belonged to Taylor Swift and Madonna.
Swift won video of the year and also was presented with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors by Dakota Johnson, who stars in Swift’s new video for “Patient Zero,” which premiered during the VMAs. She also won best direction for “Opalite.”
Swift told the fans that the reason she loves making videos is because of them. She also dedicated her video of the year award to the “ultimate showgirl,” Dolly Parton.
Meanwhile, Madonna was the big winner of the night, nabbing a total of seven awards on Sunday. She and Sabrina Carpenter won best collaboration not long after opening the show together with a performance of “Bring Your Love.” Madonna noted that when she reached out to Carpenter about working together, the latter didn’t get back to her for five days.
Madonna also won artist of the year honors. “I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself, and making the music I want to make,” she said in accepting the award. “That is the definition of being an artist.” She also encouraged other aspiring artists to do the same.
Lisa was presented with the award for best pop for “Dream” during the telecast, while Sienna Spiro was named best new artist. Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony. (See the looks and arrivals.)
Chuck D presented Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award this year (Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepted). There also were tributes to Parton (by Kacey Musgraves) and George Michael (by Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims). Other performers included Gener8ion, Yung Lean, Lisa, Shaboozey, Gunna and Sienna Spiro.
Oscar-nominated actress Teyana Taylor, singer Charli xcx and Off Campus sensation Belmont Cameli were among the presenters at the Video Music Awards. Also taking the stage at Sunday’s show will be singer-songwriter Alex Warren, 1923 star Brandon Sklenar, Summer House star Ciara Miller, Superman star David Corenswet, Cameli’s Off Campus co-star Ella Bright, 1883 star Isabel May, Survivor host Jeff Probst, Saturday Night Live veteran Rachel Dratch, singer Tyla and actor-singer Troye Sivan, rapper Chuck D, Spice Girl Emma Bunton, musician Orville Peck and Paris Hilton.
The 2026 VMAs, which are taking place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, aired live on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+ (Premium) in the U.S. It also will be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
The show is produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with Van Toffler producing. Toffler recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the 2026 VMAs will be a “kick-ass, fast-paced show,” adding: “This will be an atypical awards show, and it’ll be a fun ride.”
Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barb Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers, alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Snoop Dogg also is exec producer.
See the winners below.
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Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- Island
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records (WINNER) -
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Madonna – Warner Records (WINNER)
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records -
Best New Artist
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records (WINNER)
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost -
Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records (WINNER)
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings -
Song of the Year
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC (WINNER)
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources -
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records (WINNER)
Bruno Mars, “Risk It All” – Atlantic Records
Charli xcx, “Camera” – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE, “Hootie Frutti” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Latto ft. Doja Cat, “Okayyy” – Steamcut / RCA Records
Morgan Wallen, “Been By Now – Big Loud / Mercury Records
Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” – Island
Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
sombr, “Homewrecker” – SMB Music / Warner Records
Stella Lefty, “Boston” – Sandlot / Atlantic Outpost
Tame Impala & JENNIE, “Dracula” – Columbia Records
Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You” – Walt Disney Records / Republic Records -
Best Pop
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records (WINNER)
Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Album
Drake, ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
Madonna, Confessions II – Warner Records (WINNER)
Olivia Dean,The Art of Loving – Island
Olivia Rodrigo, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend – Island
Taylor Swift,The Life of a Showgirl – Republic Records -
Best Longform Video
Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film” – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley,”Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
GENER8ION, “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records (WINNER) -
Best Group
BLACKPINK
BTS (WINNER)
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots -
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records (WINNER)
JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Choreography
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records (WINNER)
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Editing
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island (WINNER)
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records (WINNER)
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records (WINNER)
SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records -
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records (WINNER) -
Best Country
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records (WINNER)
Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records -
Best K-pop
BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC (WINNER)
CORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records -
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment (WINNER)
Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin -
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records (WINNER)
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
ate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records -
Best Alternative
Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records (WINNER)
SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen -
Best R&B
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records (WINNER)
Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records -
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records (WINNER)
Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, The Creator – “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
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