The MTV Video Music Awards are always a spectacle, filled to the brim with eye-popping performances—and an even more astonishing red carpet. The 2026 edition, held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted by Snoop Dogg, promised no different, with Kacey Musgraves, Lisa, Madonna, Raye, Sombr, Shaboozey, Gunna, Sienna Spiro, Gener8ion, and Yung Lean all taking the stage.
As for the night’s nominees? Madge led the field with 13 nods (tying a record previously set by Lady Gaga in 2010—yes, her meat-dress year), closely followed by Taylor Swift (11), Sabrina Carpenter (nine), and Ariana Grande (eight). But the VMAs had two honorary awards to dole out, too: the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director prize, which went to Swift, and the annual Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which went to Nirvana.
For a full accounting of the winners at the 2026 MTV VMAs, catch up here.
Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Jisoo x Zayn, ‘Eyes Closed’
Madonna, ”Confessions II, The Film’
PinkPantheress, ‘Stateside + Zara Larsson’
RAYE Ft. Hans Zimmer, ‘Click Clack Symphony.’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Best Choreography
WINNER: Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Gener8ion, ‘Storm’ starring Yung Lean
Harry Styles, ‘Dance No More’
Katseye, ‘Pinky Up’
Tate McRae, ‘Nobody’s Girl’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Best Editing
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter, ‘House Tour’
Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
Lisa, ‘Dream’ Feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Best Cinematography
WINNER: Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
A$AP Rocky, ‘Punk Rocky’
Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Lisa, ‘Dream’ Feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Shaboozey, ‘Cowgirl’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Best Art Direction
WINNER: PinkPantheress, ‘Stateside + Zara Larsson’
Charli XCX, SS26′
Lady Gaga & Doechii, ‘Runway’
Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Sombr, ‘My Body Isn’t Ready’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’
Best Direction
WINNER: Taylor Swift, ‘Opalite’
Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
Gener8ion, ‘Storm’ starring Yung Lean
Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘House Tour’
Song of Summer
WINNER: Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Bruno Mars, ‘Risk It All’
Charli XCX, ‘Camera’
Ella Langley, ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Katseye, ‘Hootie Frutti’
Latto featuring Doja Cat, ‘Okayyy’
Morgan Wallen, ‘Been By Now’
Olivia Dean, ‘So Easy (To Fall in Love)’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Stupid Song’
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘House Tour’
Slayyyter, ‘Brand New Chanel$’
Sombr, ‘Homewrecker’
Stella Lefty, ‘Boston’
Tame Impala and Jennie, ‘Dracula’
Taylor Swift, ‘I Knew It, I Knew You
Best Album
WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II
Bruno Mars, The Romantic
Drake, Iceman
Ella Langley, Dandelion
Harry Styles, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally
Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
Best Long Form Video
WINNER: Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Charli XCX, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’
Ella Langley, ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Gener8ion, ‘Storm’ starring Yung Lean
Best Group
WINNER: BTS
Blackpink
Cortis
Flo
Fuerza Regida
Geese
Katseye
Twenty One Pilots
Best Country
WINNER: Ella Langley, ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Kacey Musgraves, ‘Dry Spell’
Lainey Wilson, ‘Somewhere Over Laredo’
Luke Combs, ‘Back in the Saddle’
Shaboozey, ‘Cowgirl’
Stella Lefty, ‘Boston’
Tucker Wetmore, ‘Brunette’
Best K-Pop
WINNER: BTS, ‘Swim’
Blackpink, ‘Jump’
Cortis, ‘Redred’
Katseys, ‘Pinky Up’
Le Sserafim (Feat. J-Hope of BTS), ‘Spaghetti’
Lisa, ‘Dream’ feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Latin
WINNER: Bad Bunny, ‘Nuevayol’
Anitta with Shakira, ‘Choka Choka’
Fuerza Regida, ‘TU SANCHO’
Karol G, ‘Papasito’
Rosalía Ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, ‘La Perla’
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, ‘La Villa’
Shakira & Burna By, ‘Dai Dai’
Best Alternative
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, ‘The Cure’
Geese, ‘Taxes’
MGK & Fred Durst, “Fix Ur Face’
Noah Kahan, ‘The Great Divide’
Sombr, ‘Homewrecker’
Tame Impala, ‘Dracula’
Twenty One Pilots, ‘Drag Path’
Best R&B
WINNER: Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
Chris Brown, ‘It Depends/Obvious’
Dave & Tems, ‘Raindance’
Justin Bieber, ‘Yukon’
Kehlani, ‘Folded’
Mariah The Scientist & Kali Uchis, ‘Is It A Crime’
Best Hip-Hop
WINNER: Cardi B Feat. Kehlani, ‘Safe’
Don Toliver, ‘E85’
Drake, ‘Janice STFU’
Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Lover Girl’
Travis Scott, ‘Dumbo’
Tyler, The Creator, ‘Sugar On My Tongue’
Song of the Year
WINNER: BTS, ‘Swim’
Ella Langley, ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, ‘Golden’
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Bring Your Love’
Olivia Dean, ‘Man I Need’
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson, ‘Stateside’
Raye, ‘Where Is My Husband!’
Video of the Year
WINNER: Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Bruno Mars, ‘I Just Might’
Gener8ion, ‘Storm’ starring Yung Lean
Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Tears’
Best New Artist
WINNER: Sienna Spiro
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Stella Lefty
Best Dance
WINNER: Madonna, ‘Confessions II, The Film’
Bebe Rexha & Faithless, ‘New Religion’
Harry Styles, ‘Aperture’
Lady Gaga & Doechii, ‘Runway’
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson, ‘Stateside’
Slayyyter, ‘Dance…’
Tate McRae, ‘Nobody’s Girl’
Artist of the Year
WINNER: Madonna
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration
WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, ‘Chains & Whips’
French Montana X Max B, ‘Ever Since U Left Me’
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson, ‘Stateside’
Shakira & Burna Boy, ‘Dai Dai’
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, ‘Hard Part’
Best Pop
WINNER: LISA, ‘Dream’ Feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Ariana Grande, ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’
Charli xcx, ‘SS26’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Drop Dead’
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘House Tour’
Tate McRae, ‘Nobody’s Girl’
Taylor Swift, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
