Taylor Swift has become the most awarded artiste in VMA history with 33 awards, surpassing her previous tie with Beyoncé. She also dedicated the ‘Video of the Year’ award for ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ to late country music icon Dolly Parton.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were held on Sunday in Los Angeles, with Snoop Dogg hosting the ceremony.

Madonna emerged as the biggest winner at this year’s VMAs after leading with 13 nominations and clinching seven awards, including Artist of the Year, Best Dance, Best Cinematography, and Best Collaboration.

Swift followed behind the veteran with three awards, taking home her first-ever Artist Director Honour for her new single ‘Patient Zero’ before winning the Video of the Year and Best Direction for ‘Opalite’ from 11 nods. Other notable winners included Sienna Spiro, who won Best New Artist; BTS, who took home Song of the Year for ‘Swim’, Best K-Pop and Best Group; Ella Langley, who won Best Country for ‘Choosin’ Texas’; LISA of BLACKPINK, who won Best Pop; Cardi B and Kehlani, who won Best Hip-Hop for ‘Safe’; and Nirvana, who received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Kacey Musgraves performed an emotional tribute in honour of Dolly Parton, with other performances from Shaboozey, LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Teddy Swims, Adam Lambert, and others.

Full list 

Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – Tears
WINNER: Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
WINNER: Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

Song of the Year
WINNER: BTS – Swim
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – Stateside
RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!

Best New Artist
Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
WINNER: Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty

Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana x Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – Stateside
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part

Best Pop
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Charli XCX – SS26
WINNER: LISA – Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Olivia Rodrigo – drop dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Hip-Hop
WINNER: Cardi B feat. Kehlani – Safe
Don Toliver – E85
Drake – Janice STFU
Megan Thee Stallion – LOVER GIRL
Travis Scott – DUMBO
Tyler, The Creator – SUGAR ON MY TONGUE

Best R&B
WINNER: Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – YUKON
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime

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

Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – Stateside
Slayyyter – DANCE…
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl

Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka
WINNER: Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL
Fuerza Regida – TU SANCHO
KAROL G – Papasito
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – LA VILLA
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

Best K-Pop
BLACKPINK – JUMP
WINNER: BTS – SWIM
CORTIS – REDRED
KATSEYE – PINKY UP
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – SPAGHETTI
LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi

Best Country
WINNER: Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo
Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tucker Wetmore – Brunette

Best Direction
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
WINNER: Taylor Swift – Opalite

Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – SS26
Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
WINNER: PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
SOMBR – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – PUNKROCKY
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Editing
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Choreography
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
Harry Styles – Dance No More
KATSEYE – PINKY UP
WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me
JISOO X ZAYN – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Best Group
BLACKPINK
WINNER: BTS
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots

Best Long Form Video
Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film

Best Album
Drake – ICEMAN
WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

Song of Summer
WINNER: Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – Risk It All
Charli xcx – Camera
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
KATSEYE – Hootie Frutti
Latto ft. Doja Cat – Okayyy
Morgan Wallen – Been By Now
Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall in Love)
Olivia Rodrigo – Stupid Song
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Slayyyter – Brand New Chanel$
sombr – Homewrecker
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tame Impala & JENNIE – Dracula
Taylor Swift – I Knew It, I Knew You