The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards added several new milestones to the ceremony’s history, with Madonna and Taylor Swift leaving Los Angeles with major wins and new records.
At the September 27 ceremony, organizers announced Madonna as the night’s leading winner with seven awards. Her victories included Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter for Bring Your Love, and Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film. She also opened the VMAs for a record fifth time, returning to the show as a performer for the first time in 23 years.
Taylor Swift had a historic night of her own. The ceremony named her the first recipient of the Artist Director Honors, recognizing her work as a director and visual storyteller.
Swift also won Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia and Best Direction for Opalite. Those competitive victories brought her career total to 32 VMAs.
Elsewhere, Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award, while Sienna Spiro was named Best New Artist.