The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards brought some of music’s biggest names together in Los Angeles, with Taylor Swift and Madonna among the night’s biggest winners.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theater, the ceremony saw Swift take home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Direction for “Opalite”, while Madonna, who led the nominations with 13 nods, claimed Artist of the Year, Best Album for Confessions II, and several other awards.
BTS also enjoyed a successful night, winning Song of the Year for “Swim”, Best K-Pop and Best Group. Elsewhere, Sienna Spiro was named Best New Artist, while Olivia Rodrigo took home Best Alternative and Bruno Mars claimed Best R&B.
The ceremony also saw Swift make history as the inaugural recipient of MTV’s Artist Director honour, recognising her work behind the camera, while Nirvana received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
Shortly after accepting the Artist Direction award, Swift premiered the music video for her new single “Patient Zero”.
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There was plenty of action on stage, too, with Madonna delivering her first VMAs performance in 23 years, Kacey Musgraves leading a tribute to Dolly Parton, and RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims paying tribute to George Michael.
Australian artists were also represented, with Tame Impala’s “Dracula” nominated for Best Alternative and Song of Summer, the latter alongside JENNIE. Fellow Australian Troye Sivan was among this year’s presenters.
See the full list of 2026 MTV Video Music Awards winners below (bolded).
2026 MTV Video Music Awards Winners:
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”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” (WINNER)
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna (WINNER)
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
BTS — “Swim” (WINNER)
Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI — “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
RAYE — “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro (WINNER)
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice — “Chains & Whips”
French Montana x Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love” (WINNER)
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
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”
LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” (WINNER)
Olivia Rodrigo — “drop dead”
Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B ft. Kehlani — “Safe” (WINNER)
Don Toliver — “E85”
Drake — “Janice STFU”
Megan Thee Stallion — “LOVER GIRL”
Travis Scott — “DUMBO”
Tyler, The Creator — “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE”
Best R&B
Bruno Mars — “I Just Might” (WINNER)
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”
Olivia Rodrigo — “the cure” (WINNER)
SOMBR — “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala — “Dracula”
twenty one pilots — “Drag Path”
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless — “New Religion”
Harry Styles — “Aperture”
Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY”
Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” (WINNER)
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Slayyyter — “DANCE …”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka”
Bad Bunny — “NUEVAYoL” (WINNER)
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”
BTS — “Swim” (WINNER)
CORTIS — “REDRED”
KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI”
LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best Country
Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas” (WINNER)
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”
Taylor Swift — “Opalite” (WINNER)
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX — “SS26”
Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY”
Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson” (WINNER)
SOMBR — “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky — “PUNK ROCKY”
Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” (WINNER)
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”
Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” (WINNER)
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”
Harry Styles — “Dance No More”
KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film” (WINNER)
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me” (WINNER)
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”
Social Categories
Best Group
BLACKPINK
BTS (WINNER)
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
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records (WINNER)
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
Song of the 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
