MTV Video Music Awards 2026: Full list of winners as Taylor Swift makes history

This year’s awards, hosted by Snoop Dogg, largely awarded female artists
Taylor Swift makes VMA awards history as she honours 'ultimate showgirl' Dolly Parton

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The biggest names in music gathered last night for MTV’s Music Video Awards (VMAs), which saw Taylor Swift and Madonna dominate at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.

Hosted by Snoop Dog at the Peacock theatre on Sunday, September 27, the ceremony largely awarded female artists, with LISA, Sienna Spiro and Sabrina Carpenter also coming home victorious.

Madonna received the most number of nominations, at a whopping 13, and took home seven by the end of the night.

Madonna has earned her 65th UK top 10 single with Love Sensation (Matt Crossick/PA)
Madonna won seven awards
PA Archive

“Most of you were probably not born when I performed at the very first VMAs 43 years ago,” the 68-year-old said while accepting the award for artist of the year.

Other awards included Best Dance for her Confessions II short film and Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter.

Hot on her heels was Taylor Swift, who took home three awards this year. Last night’s wins take her career total to an unmatched 33. She had previously ‌been tied with Beyonce at 30 awards each.

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Taylor Swift accepts the Artist Director Honors onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)</p>
Taylor Swift is now the most awarded artist in VMA history
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Her song "The Fate of Ophelia" was named music video of the year, the ceremony’s most prestigious award.

Collecting her Moon Person trophy, Swift dedicated the award to the late Dolly Parton, who she deemed the "the ultimate showgirl" who told stories that were "so vivid and so rich."

"I think that we were all very lucky ​to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time," she said.

Dolly Parton performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset (Yui Mok/PA)
Taylor Swift paid tribute to Dolly Parton whilst accepting an award
PA Archive

The 36-year-old also debuted the music video for her new song Patient Zero, starring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

Here is the list of winners in full.

Best Pop

Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi — “Dream” WINNER

Video of the Year

Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Taylor Swift accepts the Artist Director Honors from Dakota Johnson onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)</p>
Taylor Swift accepts the Artist Director Honors from Dakota Johnson
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Artist of the Year

Madonna

Song of the Year

BTS — “Swim”

Best New Artist

Sienna Spiro

Best Collaboration

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Sienna Spiro performs onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)</p>
Sienna Spiro was awarded Best New Artist
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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”

Best Hip-Hop

Cardi B & Kehlani — “Safe”

Best R&B

Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”

Best Alternative

Olivia Rodrigo — “The Cure”

Best Dance

Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: PinkPantheress, winner of the Best Art Direction award for "Stateside", poses in the press room during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)</p>
PinkPantheress, winner of the Best Art Direction award for "Stateside"
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Best Latin

Bad Bunny — “Nuevayol”

Best K-Pop

BTS - “Swim”

Best Country

Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”

Best Direction

Taylor Swift - “Opalite”

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Host Snoop Dogg speaks onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)</p>
Host Snoop Dogg speaks onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards
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Best Art Direction

PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside”

Best Cinematography

Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”

Best Editing

Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”

<p>LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Teyana Taylor speaks onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)</p>
Teyana Taylor speaks onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards
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Best Choreography

Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”

Best Visual Effects

Ariana Grande — “Hate That I Made You Love Me”

Best Group

BTS

GENER8ION and Yung Lean perform onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards
Getty

Best Long Form Video

Madonna — Confessions II – The Film

Best Album

Madonna –Confessions II

Song of Summer

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”