MANILA, Philippines — BTS took home three awards at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), including Song of the Year for “Swim."
The septet also won Best K-pop and Best Group at the ceremony held Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, sweeping all three categories in which it was nominated. BTS did not attend the ceremony.
The Best Group award was BTS’ fifth in the category, following four consecutive victories from 2019 to 2022. The group is now the most-awarded act in the category’s history.
“Swim,” the lead single from BTS’ fifth studio album “Arirang,” won Song of the Year over nominees including Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love” and “Golden” by HUNTR/X from the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.”
The awards add to a major year for BTS, which reunited as a complete group in March after a nearly four-year hiatus. “Ariranh” was released the same month, with “Swim” subsequently reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Meanwhile, Madonna emerged with seven awards, the most of the night, while Taylor Swift won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” Swift also received the inaugural Artist Director Honors.
Lisa of Blackpink won Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, while Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter won Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love.”
Here is the complete list of winners at the 2026 MTV VMAs:
2026 MTV VMAs winners
Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year: Madonna
Song of the Year: BTS, “SWIM”
Best Collaboration: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
Best New Artist: Sienna Spiro
Best Pop: LISA, “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Hip-Hop: Cardi B feat. Kehlani, “Safe”
Best Dance: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best R&B: Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Best Alternative: Olivia Rodrigo, “the cure”
Best Latin: Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL”
Best K-pop: BTS, “SWIM”
Best Country: Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Best Direction Taylor Swift, “Opalite”
Best Art: Direction PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Best Cinematography: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best Editing: Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Best Choreography: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best Visual Effects: Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
Best Group: BTS
Song of Summer: Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
Best Long Form Video: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best Album: Madonna, Confessions II
