The wildest night in music is finally here.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards kicked off at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, with Snoop Dogg serving as the evening’s host.
The network tapped this year’s most-nominated (and most-awarded) artist, Madonna, to open the show, marking the first time the Queen of Pop has performed at the VMAs since 2003 when she famously kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Taylor Swift, who trailed Madonna’s 13 nominations with 11, was MTV’s inaugural Artist Director Honors recipient, while Nirvana received the coveted Video Vanguard Award. Swift also debuted her “Patient Zero” music video during the ceremony, which aired on CBS, MTV and Paramount+.
Other artists who took the stage included Kacey Musgraves, who sang a tribute to Dolly Parton following the country music legend’s August 25 death, in addition to Raye, Sombr, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert, who teamed up to honor the late George Michael.
See the complete list of nominees and winners, in bold text, below.
Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Gener8ion – “Storm”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
BTS – “Swim”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Huntr/x: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – “Golden”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Raye – “Where Is My Husband!”
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – “Chains & Whips”
French Montana and Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Shakira and Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”
Best Pop
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Charli XCX – “SS26”
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – “Dream”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Drop Dead”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B featuring 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
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious”
Dave and Tems – “Raindance”
Justin Bieber – “Yukon”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”
Best Alternative
Geese – “Taxes”
MGK and Fred Durst – “Fix Ur Face”
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
Olivia Rodrigo – “The Cure”
Sombr – “Homewrecker”
Tame Impala – “Dracula”
Twenty One Pilots – “Drag Path”
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha and Faithless – “New Religion”
Harry Styles – “Aperture”
Lady Gaga and Doechii – “Runway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Slayyyter – “Dance…”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka”
Bad Bunny – “Nuevayol”
Fuerza Regida – “Tu Sancho”
Karol G – “Papasito”
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – “La Villa”
Shakira and Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
Best K-Pop
Blackpink – “Jump”
BTS – “Swim”
Cortis – “Redred”
Katseye – “Pinky Up”
Le Sserafim feat. J-Hope of BTS – “Spaghetti”
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – “Dream”
Best Country
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”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “Opalite”
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX – “SS26”
Lady Gaga and Doechii – “Runway”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Sombr – “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – “Punk Rocky”
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – “Dream”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
Lisa featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi – “Dream”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
Gener8ion – “Storm”
Harry Styles – “Dance No More”
Katseye – “Pinky Up”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Jisoo and Zayn – “Eyes Closed”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
Raye featuring Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Group
Blackpink
BTS
Cortis
Flo
Fuerza Regida
Geese
Katseye
Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
Charli XCX – “Music, Fashion, Film”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Gener8ion – “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
Best Album
Drake – Iceman
Madonna – Confessions II
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars – “Risk It All”
Charli XCX – “Camera”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Katseye – “Hootie Frutti”
Latto featuring Doja Cat – “Okayyy”
Morgan Wallen – “Been by Now”
Olivia Dean – “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Stupid Song”
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
Slayyyter – “Brand New Chanel$”
Sombr – “Homewrecker”
Stella Lefty – “Boston”
Tame Impala and Jennie – “Dracula”
Taylor Swift – “I Knew It, I Knew You”
