MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list including Taylor Swift
MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list including Taylor Swift
Jennifer McClellan and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYMon, September 28, 2026 at 3:27 AM UTC
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More than 40 years after her iconic "Like a Virgin" performance rocked the very first MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna is back in a big way.
The Queen of Pop was the night's biggest winner, taking home seven trophies from her 11 nominations, including artist of the year (three were awarded on the Sept. 27 broadcast). She was followed closely by another pop superstar: Taylor Swift, who was presented with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. “The Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter took home three out of her nine nominations.
Though Ariana Grande and Madonna’s collaborator Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, Grande won in one category while Carpenter earned two trophies. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson clocked in at five each, and all of them got one win.
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The VMAs bring together the biggest artists of the year to celebrate the top songs and music videos chosen by fans. Snoop Dogg hosted this year's ceremony, which took place in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Here are the 2026 VMAs winners (in bold).
Video of the year -
Winner: Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”– Island
Artist of the year -
Winner: Madonna – Warner Records
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Song of the year -
Winner: BTS, “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
Best new artist -
Winner: Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Best collaboration -
Winner: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
Best pop -
Winner: LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best hip-hop -
Winner: Cardi B featuring Kehlani, “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver, “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake, “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion, “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott, “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, The Creator, “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
Best R&B -
Winner: Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems, “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber, “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani, “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
Best alternative -
Winner: Olivia Rodrigo, “the cure” – Geffen Records
Geese, “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst, “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
SOMBR, “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala, “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots, “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
Best dance -
Winner: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Bebe Rexha & Faithless, “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles, “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter, “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Best Latin -
Winner: Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Fuerza Regida, “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G, “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Best K-pop -
Winner: BTS, “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
BLACKPINK, “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
CORTIS, “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (featuring j-hope of BTS), “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Best country -
Winner: Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty, “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records
Best direction -
Winner: Taylor Swift, “Opalite” – Republic Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Best art direction -
Winner: PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNAWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
SOMBR, “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best cinematography -
Winner: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
A$AP Rocky, “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best editing -
Winner: Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best choreography -
Winner: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles, “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best visual effects -
Winner: Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
JISOO X ZAYN, “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list including Taylor Swift
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
