Winners of the 2026 MTV Music Video Awards have been announced, recognizing excellence in pop culture, music and video production.
At the ceremony, hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, Madonna was the biggest winner of the night, taking home seven prizes in total, including three onstage wins: Artist of the Year, Best Dance for her Confessions II short film and Best Collaboration for “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter.
Accepting the honor for Artist of the Year, Madonna shared an anecdote about her debut at the very first VMAs in 1984. “I had a little problem with my shoes … and I dove onto the stage to try to make myself look cute and sexy and like I meant to do it,” she said. “I went backstage feeling really proud of myself and my manager told me that my career was over.”
Taylor Swift, who accepted the first-ever Artist Director Honor, was the second biggest winner of the night. She took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” and she also won Best Direction for “Opalite.”
The feat makes Swift the most decorated performer in the event's history. Swift was previously tied with Beyoncé for the most wins at the VMAs overall, with 30 trophies each, while Eminem holds the male record with 15.
The ceremony also included two tributes, one to the late George Michael and another to Dolly Parton, who died in August aged 80, who was honored by Kacey Musgraves through a rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Only eight awards were handed out during the live broadcast, so find out the full list of winners below...
Best Pop
Ariana Grande — “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Charli xcx — “SS26”
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi — “Dream” WINNER
Olivia Rodrigo — “Drop Dead”
Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
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 — “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
Raye — “Where Is My Husband!”
Best New Artist, presented by The General Insurance®
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 & Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love” WINNER
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye — “Hard Part”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B & 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, presented by Bacardí® Rum
Bebe Rexha & Faithless — “New Religion”
Harry Styles — “Aperture”
Lady Gaga & Doechii — “Runway”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film” WINNER
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
Slayyyter — “Dance…”
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
Anitta & Shakira — “Choka Choka”
Bad Bunny — “Nuevayol” WINNER
Fuerza Regida — “Tu Sancho”
Karol G — “Papasito”
Rosalía & 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 & J-Hope of BTS — “Spaghetti”
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi — “Dream”
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 — “Runway”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside” WINNER
Sombr — “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky — “Punk Rocky”
Ariana Grande — “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi — “Dream”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film” WINNER
Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
Ariana Grande — “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”
Lisa & Kentara Sakaguchi — “Dream”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour” WINNER
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
Gener8ion — “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Harry Styles — “Dance No More”
Katseye — “Pinky Up”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film” WINNER
Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande — “Hate That I Made You Love Me” WINNER
Jisoo & Zayn — “Eyes Closed”
Madonna — “Confessions II - The Film”
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
Raye & Hans Zimmer — “Click Clack Symphony”
Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Group
BLACKPINK
BTS WINNER
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
Charli xcx — Music, Fashion, Film
Ella Langley — Choosin’ Texas
GENER8ION — STORM starring Yung Lean
Madonna — Confessions II – The Film WINNER
Best Album
Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
Madonna –Confessions II WINNER
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” WINNER
Bruno Mars – “Risk It All”
Charli xcx – “Camera”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
KATSEYE – “Hootie Frutti”
Latto ft. Doja Cat – “Okayyy”
Morgan Wallen – “Been By Now”
Olivia Dean – “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Stupid Song”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour
Slayyyter – “Brand New Chanel$”
sombr – “Homewrecker”
Stella Lefty – “Boston”
Tame Impala & JENNIE – “Dracula”
Taylor Swift – “I Knew It, I Knew You”
