MTV VMAs 2026 Winners List: Madonna Dominates, Taylor Swift Wins Special Honor

It was like 1998 all over again. Madonna won six Video Music Awards that year for Ray of Light.

Flash forward to tonight, and the pop icon won seven awards, including Artist of the Year, for Confessions II, the sequel to her 2005 album.

Also winning were Sabrina Carpenter for Best Editing and for her collab with the Material Girl on “Bring Your Love.” The duo appeared onstage together to accept.

Taylor Swift won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Director for “Opalite,” as well as a special “Artist Director” honor.

Full Winners List

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (presented in show)

Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR (presented in show)

Madonna – Warner Records

BEST COLLABORATION (presented in show)

Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records

BEST DANCE, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum (presented in show)

Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by The General Insurance® (presented in show)

Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records

BEST POP (presented in show)

LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC

BEST HIP-HOP

Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records

BEST R&B

Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records

BEST LATIN

Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment

BEST K-POP

BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC

BEST COUNTRY

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records

BEST DIRECTION

Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records

BEST ART DIRECTION

PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK / Atlantic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

BEST EDITING

Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records

SOCIAL CATEGORIES:

BEST GROUP

BTS

BEST LONG FORM VIDEO

Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

BEST ALBUM

Madonna – Confessions II – Warner Records

SONG OF SUMMER –

Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records