The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards belonged to two generations of pop royalty. Taylor Swift took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” while Madonna claimed Artist of the Year, capping a night when both artists dominated the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and reminded everyone how much of MTV’s visual history runs through them.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg, Sunday night’s ceremony saw Swift win Video of the Year and Best Direction for “Opalite,” and become the first recipient of MTV’s new Artist Director Honor, recognizing her work behind the camera. Shortly after accepting that award, Swift premiered the video for her new single “Patient Zero.”
Accepting Video of the Year, Swift dedicated the award to Dolly Parton, whom she called “the ultimate showgirl.” Swift also spoke about the craft behind “The Fate of Ophelia,” which she wrote and directed, including her effort to make the video feel like a continuous shot by hiding cuts throughout.
Madonna, meanwhile, turned the night into something of a victory lap.
After entering the show with 13 nominations, she won Artist of the Year, Best Album for Confessions II, Best Dance, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography, Best Long Form Video, and Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter for Bring Your Love.
Her Artist of the Year acceptance also provided one of the night’s best full-circle moments. Madonna recalled her infamous appearance at the very first VMAs in 1984, when a wardrobe mishap during Like a Virgin led her manager to tell her backstage that her career was over. Four decades later, she stood onstage accepting one of the ceremony’s biggest awards.
Madonna said she had spent the past year and a half “finding myself” and making the music she wanted to make, while crediting longtime collaborator Stuart Price for helping bring Confessions II to life.
She also returned to the VMA stage as a performer for the first time in 23 years, opening the show with Bring Your Love and Danceteria. The performance included appearances from Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Sombr, Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Seth Rogen, Andrew Watt and Fab Five Freddy.
Beyond Swift and Madonna, BTS had a major night of its own, winning Song of the Year for Swim, Best K-Pop, and Best Group. Sienna Spiro won Best New Artist, while LISA took Best Pop for Dream, Bruno Mars won Best R&B for I Just Might, Olivia Rodrigo won Best Alternative for “the cure,” Bad Bunny won Best Latin for “NUEVAYoL,” and Ella Langley won Best Country for Choosin’ Texas.
Other notable winners included Cardi B featuring Kehlani for Best Hip-Hop with Safe, Ariana Grande for Song of the Summer with Hate That I Made You Love Me, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson for Best Art Direction, Sabrina Carpenter for Best Editing and Ariana Grande for Best Visual Effects.
Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award, with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepting the honor. The night also included a Dolly Parton tribute led by Kacey Musgraves and a George Michael tribute featuring RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims.
For a show built around music video history, the symmetry was hard to miss. Madonna, who helped define MTV’s first era, walked away as Artist of the Year. Swift, who has increasingly taken control of her own visual storytelling, left with Video of the Year and an award recognizing her as a director.
Different eras. Same Moon Person. See the complete list of winners below:
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
- WINNER: Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Artist of the Year
- Ariana Grande – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
- WINNER: Madonna – Warner 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
- Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
- CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
- Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records
- Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
- Myles Smith – RCA Records
- WINNER: Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
- 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
- WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner 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
Genre-Specific Categories
Best Pop
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
- WINNER: LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./RCA 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
- 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
- WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records
- SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
- twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
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
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Best Latin
- Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
- WINNER: Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
- 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 K-Pop
- BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
- WINNER: BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
- 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
Technical Categories
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
- WINNER: Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – 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
- WINNER: PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- 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
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
- 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
- WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”- Island
- 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
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner 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 – “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
Social Categories
- BLACKPINK
- WINNER: BTS
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
- Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film – Atlantic Records
- Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
- GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
- WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records
Best Album
- Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
- WINNER: Madonna –Confessions II – Warner 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 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
