The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards brought together established icons, global pop stars and a new generation of artists at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 27, with Snoop Dogg hosting the ceremony.
Taylor Swift Takes Video of the Year
Taylor Swift won Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia, adding another major Moon Person to her collection. She also received the newly introduced Artist Director Honors, making her the first recipient of the award.
Madonna Wins Artist of the Year
Madonna, who entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist, won Artist of the Year and also picked up Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film. She opened the show with her first VMAs performance in more than two decades.
Her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love,” also won Best Collaboration.
LISA Scores Best Pop
LISA won Best Pop for Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. She also performed her new single “SaWaDiKa” during the ceremony, bringing a Thai-inspired visual moment to the VMAs stage.
A Breakthrough Win for Sienna Spiro
One of the night’s biggest emerging-artist moments went to Sienna Spiro, who won Best New Artist after making the final round of fan voting.
Nirvana Receives the Video Vanguard Award
Nirvana was honored with the Video Vanguard Award, with surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear appearing onstage.
The 2026 VMAs ultimately mixed nostalgia with a strong changing-of-the-guard mood, pairing career-spanning honors with some of the year’s biggest new pop names.
