MTV VMAs 2026 winners list

Sept. 27, 2026Updated Sept. 28, 2026, 8:19 a.m. ET

More than 40 years after her iconic “Like a Virgin” performance rocked the very first MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna is back in a big way.

The Queen of Pop was the night’s biggest winner, taking home seven trophies from her 11 nominations, including artist of the year (three were awarded on the Sept. 27 broadcast). She was followed closely by another pop superstar: Taylor Swift, who was presented with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. “The Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter took home three out of her nine nominations.

Though Ariana Grande and Madonna’s collaborator Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, Grande won in one category while Carpenter earned two trophies. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson clocked in at five each, and all of them got one win.

The VMAs bring together the biggest artists of the year to celebrate the top songs and music videos chosen by fans. Snoop Dogg hosted this year’s ceremony, which took place in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Here are the 2026 VMAs winners (in bold).

Video of the year

Winner:Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”– Island

Artist of the year

Winner: Madonna – Warner Records
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the year

Winner: BTS, “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources

Best new artist

Winner: Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

Best collaboration

Winner: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

Best pop

Winner: LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best hip-hop

Winner: Cardi B featuring Kehlani, “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver, “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake, “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion, “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott, “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, The Creator, “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records

Best R&B

Winner: Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems, “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber, “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani, “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records

Best alternative

Winner: Olivia Rodrigo, “the cure” – Geffen Records
Geese, “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst, “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
SOMBR, “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala, “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots, “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

Best dance

Winner: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Bebe Rexha & Faithless, “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles, “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter, “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

Best Latin

Winner: Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Fuerza Regida, “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G, “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

Best K-pop

Winner: BTS, “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
BLACKPINK, “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
CORTIS, “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (featuring j-hope of BTS), “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

Best country

Winner: Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty, “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records

Best direction

Winner: Taylor Swift, “Opalite” – Republic Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island

Best art direction

Winner: PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNAWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
SOMBR, “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records