Taylor Swift Makes History With Most Ever Wins at MTV VMAs
Taylor Swift Makes History With Most Ever Wins at MTV VMAs
Sabba Rahbar Mon, September 28, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Taylor Swift is filling up her blank space with some new hardware.
The “Fate of Ophelia” singer officially made history at the 2026 MTV VMAs by becoming the most awarded artist in the show's history during the Sept. 27 ceremony at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater.
The 36-year-old—who was up for nine awards at the big night in music—was feeling all too well as she won the first-ever recipient of the Artist-Director award, an honor bestowed to a musician “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” according to a press release from MTV.
When she accepted the award, she put a spotlight on those whom she was especially grateful for.
"I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago, and since then I've gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos," she said onstage. "Eighteen of those I wrote and directed. I really love writing and directing music videos."
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"I got to tell you though, the main reason why I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much fun," she continued. "You make it so rewarding because you actually care about what we're making."
The wins also meant that she officially surpassed Beyoncé for most MTV VMA wins, as the two were previously tied with 30 Moonman statues apiece.
Since making her first foray in the field as a co-director on her 2010 video “Mine,” Swift has self-directed a majority of her songs’ visuals, including “The Man,” "I Bet You Think About Me,” “All Too Well: The Short Film,” “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled.”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
And Swift’s latest directing achievement was on display during the award show—hosted by SnoopDogg—as she premiered her new music video for “Patient Zero,” starring DakotaJohnson and ColinFarrell.
The video comes just days after Swift dropped “Patient Zero” on her Sept. 25 release The Life of a Showgirl: Encore. In addition to the new track, the album included three additional new songs including “Pink Clouding,” “Babylon” and “Cleveland!,” the latter of which was all about her love story with husband Travis Kelce.
"Something we all can agree on / But my baby likes what he likes," she sings on the track. "He already took me to Cleveland / And showed me The Heights, so hate all you like / This is the love of my life."
For more iconic moments from the 2026 MTV VMAs, keep reading.
Taylor Swift
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTeyana Taylor
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesParis Hilton
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesCharli xcx
John Shearer/WireImageDave Grohl & Jordyn Blum
John Shearer/WireImageLisa Rinna
Monica Schipper/WireImageCiara Miller
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesNic Vansteenberghe
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesLISA
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesRaye
Todd Williamson/CBS via Getty ImagesSombr
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTeddy Swims
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesPinkPantheress
Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty ImagesNormani
John Shearer/WireImageRachel Dratch
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTyla
John Shearer/WireImageAlex Warren
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesDavid Corenswet
John Shearer/WireImageNicky Hilton
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty ImagesFrench Montana
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty ImagesEmma Bunton
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesShaboozey
Monica Schipper/WireImageBebe Rexha
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesAdam Lambert
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images
Head to E! Online's 2024 Video Music Awards page for a full recap of the night's jaw-dropping fashions and every must-see moment.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
