The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards wrapped up in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, with another night of big performances, major wins and plenty of memorable moments.
Held at the Peacock Theatre, this year’s ceremony brought together some of the biggest names across different corners of the music industry, with awards handed out across the major, genre and technical categories.
Madonna had the biggest haul of the night, taking home seven awards, including Artist of the Year and Best Dance. She also picked up Best Collaboration alongside Sabrina Carpenter for their joint record, Bring Your Love.
Taylor Swift was another major winner, securing Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia and adding Best Direction for Opalite to her collection.
BTS also had a strong showing, winning Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for Swim, while the group also took home the Best Group award. Sienna Spiro claimed Best New Artist, marking one of the night’s notable breakthrough moments.
Elsewhere, LISA picked up Best Pop for Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Cardi B and Kehlani took the Best Hip-Hop category with Safe, while Bruno Mars added another VMA to his résumé after winning Best R&B for I Just Might.
With a mix of established stars, rising acts and genre leaders taking home trophies, the 2026 VMAs once again provided a snapshot of the artists and songs that shaped the year’s music conversation.
Here is the full list of nominees and winners from the 2026 MTV VMAs:
Video of the Year
- 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”
- WINNER: Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year
- Ariana Grande
- Bruno Mars
- WINNER: Madonna
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
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!”
Best New Artist
- Bella Kay
- CORTIS
- Magnus Ferrell
- Malcolm Todd
- Myles Smith
- WINNER: Sienna Spiro
- Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
- Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips”
- French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
- WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
- PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
- Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
- Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”
Best Pop
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
- Charli xcx – “SS26”
- WINNER: LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
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”
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 Alternative
- Geese – “Taxes”
- mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE”
- Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
- WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure”
- SOMBR – “Homewrecker”
- Tame Impala – “Dracula”
- twenty one pilots – “Drag Path”
Best Dance
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion”
- Harry Styles – “Aperture”
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY”
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
- Slayyyter – “DANCE…”
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
- Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka”
- WINNER: Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
- Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO”
- KAROL G – “Papasito”
- Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
- Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA”
- Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Best K-Pop
- BLACKPINK – “JUMP”
- WINNER: BTS – “SWIM”
- CORTIS – “REDRED”
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
- LE SSERAFIM feat. j-hope of BTS – “SPAGHETTI”
- LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
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 Direction
- 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”
- WINNER: Taylor Swift – “Opalite”
Best Art Direction
- Charli xcx – “SS26”
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY”
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- WINNER: PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
- SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
- A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY”
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
- LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
- LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
- GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean”
- Harry Styles – “Dance No More”
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
- WINNER: Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
- WINNER: Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
- JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed”
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
- RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Group
- BLACKPINK
- WINNER: BTS
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
- Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film
- Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
- GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean
- WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Best Album
- Drake – ICEMAN
- WINNER: Madonna – Confessions II
- Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
- Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
- Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Song of Summer
- WINNER: Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
- Bruno Mars – “Risk It All”
- Charli xcx – “Camera”
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
- KATSEYE – “Hootie Frutti”
- Latto ft. Doja Cat – “Okayyy”
- Morgan Wallen – “Been By Now”
- Olivia Dean – “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “Stupid Song”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
- Slayyyter – “Brand New Chanel$”
- sombr – “Homewrecker”
- Stella Lefty – “Boston”
- Tame Impala & JENNIE – “Dracula”
- Taylor Swift – “I Knew It, I Knew You