The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, 27 September, with Madonna and Taylor Swift among the biggest winners of the night. Madonna entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist with 13 nominations and finished as the night’s biggest winner, collecting seven awards including Artist of the Year, Best Dance and Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter for “Bring Your Love”. Swift, who received 11 nominations, took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Direction for “Opalite”, as well as receiving the first Artist Director Honors.

Elsewhere, BTS won Song of the Year for “Swim” as well as Best K-Pop and Best Group, while Sienna Spiro was voted Best New Artist and LISA won Best Pop for “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.

Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the ceremony also featured performances from Madonna, LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey, GENER8ION and Yung Lean. One of the night’s most emotional moments came from Kacey Musgraves, who paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a moving performance of “I Will Always Love You”, while RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims honoured George Michael.

Here is the full list of winners from the 2026 MTV VMAs.

Video of the Year

WINNER: Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

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

Artist of the Year

WINNER: Madonna – Warner Records

Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the Year

WINNER: BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC

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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources

Best New Artist

WINNER: Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records

Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

Best Collaboration

WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records

Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

Best Pop

WINNER: LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./RCA Records

Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
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 Hip-Hop

WINNER: Cardi B feat. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records

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

Best R&B

WINNER: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

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 Alternative

WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo – “The Cure” – Geffen Records

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
SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
Twenty One Pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

Best Dance

WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records

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
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

Best Latin

WINNER: Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment

Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía feat. 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 K-Pop

WINNER: BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC

BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
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 Country

WINNER: Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records

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/MCA/Mercury Records

Best Direction

WINNER: Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records

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

Best Art Direction

WINNER: PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records

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
SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Cinematography

WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records

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
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Editing

WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island

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
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Choreography

WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records

GENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Visual Effects

WINNER: Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records

JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE feat. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Group

WINNER: BTS

BLACKPINK
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots

Best Long Form Video

WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records

Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music

Best Album

WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – Warner Records

Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
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

Song of Summer

WINNER: Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records

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 feat. 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

Madonna finished the night with seven wins, making her the most-awarded artist at the 2026 ceremony. Alongside Artist of the Year, she won Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, Best Dance, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography, Best Long Form Video and Best Album for Confessions II.

Taylor Swift also had a major night, winning Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Direction for “Opalite”. She was also presented with the inaugural Artist Director Honors before premiering the music video for her new track “Patient Zero”.

BTS picked up three awards, winning Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for “Swim”, as well as Best Group.

For CultureCues, this year’s VMAs gave us plenty to celebrate. Madonna walking away with seven awards feels very well deserved, especially when Confessions II has been such a banger, and seeing her take Artist of the Year as well as Best Album and Best Dance made it a huge night for her. Taylor Swift adding another Video of the Year win to her collection almost feels inevitable at this point, while we also loved seeing Sienna Spiro take Best New Artist and BTS pick up three awards. Plenty of Moon Persons found new homes in LA.

Madonna was the biggest winner at the 2026 MTV VMAs with seven awards.