The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards returned to Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, taking over the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE and marking the show’s first West Coast ceremony since 2017.
Madonna emerged as the biggest winner of the night, taking home seven awards, including Artist of the Year.
Taylor Swift claimed one of the evening’s top honors, winning Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” Swift also earned Best Direction for “Opalite” and received the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
Madonna’s winning streak included Best Collaboration alongside Sabrina Carpenter for “Bring Your Love,” as well as Best Dance, Best Cinematography and Best Choreography for “Confessions II – The Film.” The project was also named Best Long Form Video, while Confessions II took Best Album.
Sienna Spiro was named Best New Artist, while LISA took home Best Pop for “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi.”
BTS had a major night, winning Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for “Swim,” in addition to being named Best Group.
Elsewhere, Cardi B featuring Kehlani won Best Hip-Hop for “Safe,” Bruno Mars earned Best R&B for “I Just Might,” Olivia Rodrigo took Best Alternative for “the cure,” and Bad Bunny won Best Latin for “NUEVAYoL.”
Ella Langley claimed Best Country for “Choosin’ Texas,” while Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” earned Best Visual Effects and was named Song of Summer.
In the technical categories, PinkPantheress won Best Art Direction for “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” while Sabrina Carpenter’s “House Tour” earned Best Editing.
The evening also celebrated music history with Nirvana receiving the Video Vanguard Award.
2026 MTV VMA Winners
Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year: Madonna
Best Collaboration: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
Best Dance: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best New Artist: Sienna Spiro
Best Pop: LISA, “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
Song of the Year: BTS, “Swim”
Best Hip-Hop: Cardi B ft. Kehlani, “Safe”
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
Best Long Form Video: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Best Album: Madonna, Confessions II
Song of Summer: Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
Video Vanguard: Nirvana
MTV VMA Artist Director Honors: Taylor Swift
