The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards brought major victories for some of the biggest stars in music, with BTS securing three awards and Taylor Swift adding more trophies to her record-setting VMA collection. Madonna was the night’s biggest winner, taking home seven awards at the ceremony held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Sunday, September 27.
BTS won Song of the Year for SWIM, as well as Best K-Pop and Best Group, winning all three categories in which they were nominated. Their track SWIM also earned one of the ceremony’s major genre-neutral honours.
Taylor Swift received the first-ever Artist Director Honors and also won Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia. She additionally took home Best Direction for Opalite, further extending her record-breaking VMA achievements.
Madonna, who had entered the ceremony with a leading 13 nominations, collected seven awards. Among her televised wins were Artist of the Year, Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film and Best Collaboration for Bring Your Love, her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
BTS win three awards
BTS enjoyed a successful evening at the VMAs with SWIM. The song secured Song of the Year and Best K-Pop, while the group won Best Group. Having received three nominations, BTS emerged victorious in all three categories.
BTS won 3 awards at VMAs 2026. Photo: AFP
BTS faced competition for Song of the Year from Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas, HUNTR/X’s Golden, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s Bring Your Love, Olivia Dean’s Man I Need, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s Stateside and RAYE’s WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!.
Taylor Swift adds to her VMA record
Taylor Swift had another notable evening at the VMAs, becoming the first artist to receive the newly introduced Artist Director Honors. The award recognised her work behind the camera and her contribution to visual storytelling through music videos.
Swift went on to win Best Direction for Opalite and later claimed the final award of the ceremony, Video of the Year, for The Fate of Ophelia.
She arrived at the ceremony with 11 nominations, including entries in the Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best Direction categories.
Madonna leads the winners
Madonna collected the highest number of awards at the ceremony, taking home seven trophies. Three of those victories were announced during the televised broadcast: Artist of the Year, Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film and Best Collaboration for Bring Your Love with Sabrina Carpenter.
She was also part of the performance lineup, opening the ceremony with her first live VMAs performance in 23 years.
Other major winners
LISA won Best Pop for Dream, featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi, while Sienna Spiro took the Best New Artist award following fan voting during the ceremony.
Cardi B and Kehlani won Best Hip-Hop for Safe. Bruno Mars received Best R&B for I Just Might, and Olivia Rodrigo won Best Alternative for The Cure.
Bad Bunny won Best Latin for NUEVAYoL, while Ella Langley secured Best Country for Choosin’ Texas.
In the technical categories, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson won Best Art Direction for Stateside. Sabrina Carpenter received Best Editing for House Tour, while Ariana Grande won Best Visual Effects for hate that i made you love me.
Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award. Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to Dolly Parton, while RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims paid tribute to George Michael.
The ceremony was hosted by Snoop Dogg and featured performances by Madonna, LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey, Gunna, GENER8ION and Yung Lean.
Full list of 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 New Artist: Sienna Spiro
Best Collaboration: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Best Pop: LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Hip-Hop: Cardi B feat. Kehlani – Safe
Best R&B: Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Best Alternative: Olivia Rodrigo – the cure
Best Dance: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
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
Artist Director Honors: Taylor Swift
