MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 2026 WINNERS - FULL WINNERS LIST & SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, 2026, with Snoop Dogg hosting a star-packed night that aired at 7:30pm ET on CBS and MTV, streaming on Paramount+ (Premium). Madonna ruled the evening, taking home Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift scored Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia" — setting the tone for one of the most talked-about VMA nights in years.

Image: Taylor Swift (official music video).

The Big Winners

Here is the complete list of the night's biggest winners:

• Artist of the Year: Madonna (Warner Records)
• Video of the Year: Taylor Swift — "The Fate of Ophelia" (Republic Records)
• Song of the Year: BTS — "Swim" (BIGHIT MUSIC)
• Best Collaboration: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — "Bring Your Love" (Warner Records)
• Best New Artist: Sienna Spiro (Capitol Records), beating fellow nominees Stella Lefty, Myles Smith, Malcolm Todd, Magnus Ferrell, CORTIS and Bella Kay
• Best Pop: LISA — "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi" (Lloud Co./RCA Records)
• Video Vanguard Award: Nirvana
• MTV VMA Artist Director Honors (inaugural): Taylor Swift

The Song of the Year race was one of the most competitive of the night. BTS took the prize with "Swim," topping a shortlist that included Ella Langley ("Choosin' Texas"), HUNTR/X ("Golden"), Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter ("Bring Your Love"), Olivia Dean ("Man I Need"), PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson ("Stateside") and RAYE ("WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!").

Standout Moments

Madonna opened the show with a bang, performing "Bring Your Love" alongside Sabrina Carpenter before tearing through "Danceteria Afterhours" with Charli xcx. It was her first live VMAs performance in 23 years, and a reminder of why she remains one of the most commanding live performers in pop.

Taylor Swift had a career-defining night of her own. Along with picking up the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honor, she used the broadcast to world-premiere her self-directed "Patient Zero" music video from The Encore, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell and shot by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.

Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award in one of the evening's most emotional moments, while the show also paused for tributes: a George Michael medley performed by Teddy Swims, sombr and RAYE, plus a heartfelt salute to Dolly Parton by Kacey Musgraves.

Watch the official "Patient Zero" video, premiered during the show:

Stay tuned to LatestLyrics for lyrics to the night's biggest songs — from BTS, Ella Langley, Sienna Spiro and sombr to more from artists like Morgan Wallen.