Madonna turned a long-awaited return into the biggest competitive haul of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, while Taylor Swift took Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” at a ceremony that paired contemporary pop spectacle with tributes to Dolly Parton, George Michael and Nirvana.
The final results gave Madonna seven awards, including Artist of the Year and Best Album for Confessions II. Swift won Best Direction for “Opalite” as well as the evening’s top video prize, and received the inaugural Artist Director Honors. BTS earned three competitive awards: Song of the Year, Best K-Pop and Best Group.
Snoop Dogg hosted the September 27 ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. Beyond its largest winners, the show gave Sienna Spiro a Best New Artist breakthrough and LISA the Best Pop award, while performances moved between elaborate choreography, country songs and vocal tributes. The full results below include awards that were not the focus of the televised presentations.
A Madonna comeback built around collaboration
Madonna’s first VMA performance since 2003 opened with Sabrina Carpenter on “Bring Your Love” and continued with Charli xcx on the “Danceteria” remix. The production recreated the club world of Confessions II, moving from a piano-led opening into a bathroom set. Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Seth Rogen and Sombr joined the spectacle, as documented by Entertainment Weekly and Stereogum.
The collaboration carried into the awards: Madonna and Carpenter won for “Bring Your Love.” Madonna also collected Best Dance, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography and Best Long-Form Video for Confessions II – The Film, alongside her artist and album victories.
Accepting Best Dance, she distilled the night’s club imagery into a statement of belonging: “We’re all equal on the dance floor,” according to the Associated Press.
Every main-show performance
The telecast’s nine musical segments are listed below. Guest singers are included within their respective performances; Swift’s music-video premiere is covered separately. The rundown draws on Pitchfork’s coverage, contemporaneous reports and the organizer’s announced lineup.
| Artists / segment | Songs and performance |
|---|---|
| Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx | “Bring Your Love” with Carpenter and “Danceteria Afterhours” with Charli xcx anchored the opening medley. It also incorporated elements of “Good for the Soul” and choreography associated with “One Step Away,” according to the set rundown. |
| Kacey Musgraves — Dolly Parton tribute | Musgraves sang “I Will Always Love You.” The choice put Parton’s songwriting at the center of the tribute, with Musgraves appearing in a sparkling magenta outfit. Both Pitchfork and EW documented the performance. |
| RAYE | “I Will Overcome” led into “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” with strings and a large band. She shed a white coat to reveal a red dress and performed barefoot. Rolling Stone also documented a “Funkytown” interpolation and an updated recording of her grandmother’s voice. |
| Bruno Mars | “Dance With Me,” presented in a prerecorded tour performance, featured an extended guitar solo. This was a remote musical contribution, rather than a live performance inside the Peacock Theater. |
| LISA | “SaWaDiKa” brought boxing-inspired movement and coordinated dancers to the stage. A moving platform formed part of the production. Her performance followed the emotional Best Pop acceptance for “Dream.” |
| Shaboozey and Gunna | Shaboozey began with “Cowgirl”; Gunna joined for “High Noon.” Their pairing connected country and hip-hop, with flames and a Western-style set surrounding the act. The two-song sequence was confirmed by event coverage. |
| Sienna Spiro | Spiro sang “Great Expectation” with band accompaniment. Her performance and subsequent Best New Artist victory gave the broadcast one of its clearest introductions to an emerging performer. |
| George Michael tribute | Sombr sang “Faith” and “Father Figure”; RAYE followed with “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”; Teddy Swims performed “Careless Whisper”; and Adam Lambert led “Freedom! ’90.” MNEK, Meek and Saint Harison joined the finale, confirmed by Stereogum and event photographs. Orville Peck introduced the tribute. |
| GENER8ION and Yung Lean | “STORM” translated its music video’s school-uniform choreography into a large ensemble performance. Dancers in suits and ties surrounded Yung Lean, preserving the video’s contrast between his stillness and their movement. Stereogum’s report describes the recreation. |
Swift’s directing honor and a new video
Dakota Johnson presented Swift with the first Artist Director Honors. The award recognized the work of a musician behind the camera, giving the ceremony a distinct occasion to address how music videos are made as well as who appears in them.
Swift directed her thanks toward viewers: “You make it so rewarding, because you actually care about what we’re making,” she said, as reported by EW. The AP account likewise recorded her emphasis on fans’ engagement with her videos.
She used that moment to introduce the premiere of “Patient Zero,” starring Johnson and Colin Farrell alongside Swift. CBS and MTV had announced the premiere before the ceremony. EW’s recap describes Swift and Johnson playing women connected by a relationship with Farrell’s character.
When Swift accepted Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” she dedicated it to Parton, calling her the “ultimate showgirl.” Her speech praised Parton’s storytelling and her appreciation for audiences, according to TheWrap. The dedication brought the evening’s tribute to Parton into its highest-profile competitive award.
The acceptance speeches: gratitude and remembrance
LISA’s Best Pop win supplied an early emotional moment. “All those late night dreams brought me here today,” she said in an acceptance speech documented by Rolling Stone and the AP. The win recognized “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi,” distinct from the new song she performed later in the broadcast.
Nirvana’s Video Vanguard Award brought Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear together onstage, with Chuck D presenting. Novoselic spoke about Kurt Cobain and the continuing connection listeners feel to the band.
“Kurt was one of one,” he said. His tribute described the audience’s enduring appetite for “something real, something uncompromising,” according to EW’s account, corroborated by the AP. It was an acceptance and remembrance segment; Nirvana was not part of the night’s live performance roster.
The Best Collaboration presentation also offered a lighter exchange. Madonna explained that she had contacted Carpenter directly after waiting for a response through their teams. Carpenter then defended her team while suggesting a direct message was the quickest way to reach her. EW reported that a swear word accounted for the broadcast’s brief audio bleep. Madonna’s account of initiating the collaboration was also covered by Pitchfork.
All winners and nominees
The winner appears in the middle column; the final column contains the other nominees. These 23 competitive categories combine the organizer’s nomination record with the later social-category fields reported by Us Weekly and People. Results were cross-checked against the final lists from EW and ELLE Australia. Song and video names are retained as award-entry titles; label credits are omitted for readability.
Major awards
| Category | Winner | Other nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Video of the Year | Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia | 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 |
| Artist of the Year | Madonna | Ariana Grande Bruno Mars 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 | Sienna Spiro | Bella Kay CORTIS Magnus Ferrell Malcolm Todd Myles Smith Stella Lefty |
| Best Collaboration | Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — Bring Your Love | Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice — Chains & Whips French Montana x Max B — Ever Since U Left Me PinkPantheress — Stateside + Zara Larsson Shakira & Burna Boy — Dai Dai Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye — Hard Part |
Genre awards
| Category | Winner | Other nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pop | LISA — Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi | Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me Charli xcx — SS26 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 | Olivia Rodrigo — the cure | Geese — Taxes mgk & Fred Durst — FIX UR FACE Noah Kahan — The Great Divide Sombr — Homewrecker Tame Impala — Dracula Twenty One Pilots — Drag Path |
| Best Dance | Madonna — Confessions II – The Film | Bebe Rexha & Faithless — New Religion Harry Styles — Aperture Lady Gaga & Doechii — RUNWAY PinkPantheress — Stateside + Zara Larsson Slayyyter — DANCE… Tate McRae — Nobody’s Girl |
| Best Latin | Bad Bunny — NUEVAYoL | Anitta with Shakira — Choka Choka 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 | BTS — SWIM | BLACKPINK — JUMP 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 |
Video craft awards
| Category | Winner | Other nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Best Direction | Taylor Swift — Opalite | 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 |
| Best Art Direction | PinkPantheress — Stateside + Zara Larsson | Charli xcx — SS26 Lady Gaga & Doechii — RUNWAY Madonna — Confessions II – The Film Sombr — My Body Isn’t Ready Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia |
| Best Cinematography | Madonna — Confessions II – The Film | A$AP Rocky — PUNK ROCKY Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me LISA — Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi Shaboozey — Cowgirl Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia |
| Best Editing | Sabrina Carpenter — House Tour | Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me Bruno Mars — I Just Might LISA — Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi Madonna — Confessions II – The Film Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia |
| Best Choreography | Madonna — Confessions II – The Film | GENER8ION — STORM starring Yung Lean Harry Styles — Dance No More KATSEYE — PINKY UP Tate McRae — Nobody’s Girl Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia |
| Best Visual Effects | Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me | JISOO x ZAYN — Eyes Closed Madonna — Confessions II – The Film PinkPantheress — Stateside + Zara Larsson RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer — Click Clack Symphony. Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia |
Group, album, long-form and summer awards
| Category | Winner | Other nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Best Group | BTS | BLACKPINK CORTIS FLO Fuerza Regida Geese KATSEYE Twenty One Pilots |
| Best Album | Madonna — Confessions II | Drake — Iceman Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving Olivia Rodrigo — You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love Sabrina Carpenter — Man’s Best Friend Taylor Swift — The Life of a Showgirl |
| Best Long-Form Video | Madonna — Confessions II – The Film | Charli xcx — Music, Fashion, Film Ella Langley — Choosin’ Texas GENER8ION — STORM starring Yung Lean |
| Song of the Summer | Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me | Bruno Mars — Risk It All Charli xcx — Camera Ella Langley — Choosin’ Texas KATSEYE — Hootie Frutti Latto ft. Doja Cat — Okayyy Morgan Wallen — Been By Now Olivia Dean — So Easy (to Fall in Love) Olivia Rodrigo — Stupid Song Sabrina Carpenter — House Tour Slayyyter — Brand New Chanel$ Sombr — Homewrecker Stella Lefty — Boston Tame Impala & JENNIE — Dracula Taylor Swift — I Knew It, I Knew You |
Honorary awards
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Video Vanguard Award | Nirvana |
| Artist Director Honors | Taylor Swift |
These were special honors, without a competitive nominee field.
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