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) Watch on Deadline 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 SPECIAL AWARDS: VIDEO VANGUARD – Nirvana MTV VMA ARTIST DIRECTOR HONORS – Taylor Swift