NewsEmily Orchard3 min read
VMAs 2026, the winners and the moments that mattered
Madonna won seven, Taylor Swift took Video of the Year and BTS won three. Here is who won what at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo: David Shankbone from USA / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards took place on 27 September 2026 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg and broadcast on CBS and MTV. If you followed from India, the short version: it was Madonna's night, Taylor Swift took the top prize, and BTS went home with three Moon Persons, days before the Recording Academy confirmed it is keeping the Grammy category the group is sitting out over.
The big ones
- 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 and Sabrina Carpenter, "Bring Your Love"
- Song of the Summer: Ariana Grande, "Hate That I Made You Love Me"
- Best Album: Madonna, Confessions II
Genre awards
Best Pop went to LISA's "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Cardi B and Kehlani won Best Hip-Hop for "Safe", Bruno Mars won Best R&B for "I Just Might", and Olivia Rodrigo won Best Alternative for "the cure". Bad Bunny took Best Latin for "NUEVAYoL", Ella Langley won Best Country for "Choosin' Texas", and BTS won both Best K-Pop for "Swim" and Best Group.
Craft awards
Madonna's Confessions II film won Best Dance, Best Long Form Video, Best Cinematography and Best Choreography. Swift won Best Direction for "Opalite", PinkPantheress won Best Art Direction for "Stateside" with Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter won Best Editing for "House Tour" and Ariana Grande won Best Visual Effects.
That adds up to seven trophies for Madonna, from 13 nominations.
The moments
Madonna opened the show, her first VMAs performance since 2003, bringing out Sabrina Carpenter for "Bring Your Love" and Charli xcx for the reworked "Danceteria".
Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award. Chuck D presented it, and Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepted, with Novoselic speaking about Kurt Cobain.
Swift received the first MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, premiered the video for "Patient Zero" from The Life of a Showgirl's Encore edition, and dedicated Video of the Year to Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves also paid tribute to Parton with "I Will Always Love You", while RAYE, Sombr, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert honoured George Michael.
For the BTS side of the week, read our story on why BTS and Stray Kids are sitting out the 2027 Grammys.
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