Does the Queen of Pop still reign?

That was the question facing voters for the 2026 MTV VMAs. Madonna led all other nominees, heading into the night with 11 nods to her name, and she walked away with a leading seven wins, including one of the night’s top awards, Artist of the Year. She also won for Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter and Best Dance, a category that admittedly confused Madge.

The other, Video of the Year, went to the second-most nominated artist of the evening, Taylor Swift. After collecting the inaugural Artist Director Honors, the singer closed out the night, collecting a Moonperson for her “Fate of Ophelia” music video.

The dual wins gave Swift sole position of most career VMAs with 32, breaking a tie with Beyoncé.

Other major winners included Blackpink’s Lisa, who took home Best Pop; Sienna Spiro, who won Best New Artist; and BTS, which won Song of the Year for “Swim,” Best K-Pop, and the fan-voted Best Group.

2026 VMAs red carpet photos: Stars arrive at Video Music Awards (udpating)

Video of the Year

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande
“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars
“Storm” — Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna
“Tears” — Sabrina Carpenter
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift [winner]

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna [winner]
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

“Swim” — BTS [winner]
“Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
“Golden” — Huntr/x
“Bring Your Love” — Madonna
“Man I Need” — Olivia Dean
“Stateside” — PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
“Where Is My Husband!” — Raye

Best New Artist

Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro [winner]
Stella Lefty

Best Collaboration

“Chains & Whips” — Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Malice
“Ever Since U Left Me” — French Montana and Max B
“Bring Your Love” — Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter [winner]
“Stateside” — PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
“Dai Dai” — Shakira and Burna Boy
“Hard Part” — Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye

Best Pop

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande
“SS26” — Charli xcx
“Dream” — Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi [winner]
“Drop Dead” — Olivia Rodrigo
“House Tour” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Nobody’s Girl” — Tate McRae
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Best Hip-Hop

“Safe” — Cardi B feat. Kehlani [winner]
“E85” — Don Toliver
“Janice STFU” — Drake
“Lover Girl” — Megan Thee Stallion
“Dumbo” — Travis Scott
“Sugar on My Tongue” — Tyler, the Creator

Best R&B

“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars [winner]
“It Depends/Obvious” — Chris Brown
“Raindance” — Dave and Tems
“Yukon” — Justin Bieber
“Folded” — Kehlani
“Is It a Crime” — Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis

Best Alternative

“Taxes” — Geese
“Fix Ur Face” — MGK and Fred Durst
“The Great Divide” — Noah Kahan
“The Cure” — Olivia Rodrigo [winner]
“Homewrecker” — Sombr
“Dracula” — Tame Impala
“Drag Path” — Twenty One Pilots

Best Dance

“New Religion” — Bebe Rexha and Faithless
“Aperture” — Harry Styles
“Runway” — Lady Gaga and Doechii
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna [winner]
“Stateside” — PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson
“Dance…” — Slayyyter
“Nobody’s Girl” — Tate McRae

Best Latin

“Choka Choka” — Anitta with Shakira
“Nuevayol” — Bad Bunny [winner]
“Tu Sancho” — Fuerza Regida
“Papasito” — Karol G
“La Perla” — Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia
“La Villa” — Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta
“Dai Dai” — Shakira and Burna Boy

Best K-Pop

“Jump” — Blackpink
“Swim” — BTS [winner]
“Redred” — Cortis
“Pinky Up” — Katseye
“Spaghetti” — Le Sserafim featuring J-hope of BTS
“Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” — Lisa

Best Country

“Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley [winner]
“Dry Spell” — Kacey Musgraves
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson
“Back in the Saddle” — Luke Combs
“Cowgirl” — Shaboozey
“Boston” — Stella Lefty
“Brunette” — Tucker Wetmore

Best Direction

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande
“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars
“Storm” — Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna
“House Tour” — Sabrina Carpenter
“Opalite” — Taylor Swift [winner]

Best Art Direction

“SS26” — Charli xcx
“Runway” — Lady Gaga and Doechii
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna
“Stateside + Zara Larsson” — PinkPantheress [winner]
“My Body Isn’t Ready” — Sombr
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Best Cinematography

“Punk Rocky” — A$AP Rocky
“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande
“Dream” — Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna [winner]
“Cowgirl” — Shaboozey
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Best Editing

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande
“I Just Might” — Bruno Mars
“Dream” — Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna
“House Tour” — Sabrina Carpenter [winner]
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Best Choreography

“Storm” — Gener8ion featuring Yung Lean
“Dance No More” — Harry Styles
“Pinky Up” — Katseye
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna [winner]
“Nobody’s Girl” — Tate McRae
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Best Visual Effects

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” — Ariana Grande [winner]
“Eyes Closed” — Jisoo and Zayn
“Confessions II — The Film” — Madonna
“Stateside + Zara Larsson” — PinkPantheress
“Click Clack Symphony” — Raye featuring Hans Zimmer
“The Fate of Ophelia” — Taylor Swift

Social Categories

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”

Honorary Awards

Video Vanguard Award
Nirvana

Artist Director Honors
Taylor Swift