The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are taking over Los Angeles, bringing together some of music’s biggest names for a night of performances, special tributes and awards.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the ceremony has kicked off at the Peacock Theater, with Taylor Swift, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande among this year’s leading nominees. Madonna leads the nominations with 13 nods, followed by Swift with 11, Carpenter with nine and Grande with eight.
Swift will also make history as the inaugural recipient of MTV’s Artist Director honour, recognising her work behind the camera, while Nirvana will receive this year’s prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
The ceremony will also mark Madonna’s first VMAs performance in 23 years, while Kacey Musgraves will lead a tribute to Dolly Parton and RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael.
Tame Impala’s “Dracula” has been nominated for Best Alternative and Song of Summer, the latter for its collaboration with JENNIE. Fellow Australian Troye Sivan is also among this year’s presenters.
Follow along with Rolling Stone AU/NZ today as we provide live updates on all the winners (bolded).
2026 MTV Video Music Awards Winners:
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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”
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
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 — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
RAYE — “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
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”
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”
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”
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
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”
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Slayyyter — “DANCE …”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka”
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”
BTS — “SWIM”
CORTIS — “REDRED”
KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI”
LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Best Country
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”
Taylor Swift — “Opalite”
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX — “SS26”
Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY”
Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”
PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
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”
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”
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”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
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”
Social Categories
Best Group
BLACKPINK
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
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Best Album
Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
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 the Summer
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
