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MTV VMAs 2026 winners: Full list of winners from Madonna to Taylor Swift

There were also big wins for Lisa, BTS and Sabrina Carpenter.

Taylor Swift with her arm around Madonna.

Todd Williamson/CBS via Getty Images

Published: Monday, 28 September 2026 at 11:08 am

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Madonna and Taylor Swift dominated the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with the former winning three prizes and the latter taking home the top prize.

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Madonna went into the evening as the most nominated artist with 13 nods and left with seven wins overall at the ceremony, including three during the broadcast: for best collaboration, best dance and artist of the year.

While accepting the award for artist of the year, Madonna recalled falling during her performance at the very first VMAs 43 years ago.

"I had a little problem with my shoes... and I dove onto the stage to try to make myself look cute and sexy and like I meant to do it," she said. "I went backstage feeling really proud of myself and my manager told me that my career was over."

She added: "I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make. My hope for all of you here tonight is that you do the same. Find yourself and believe in yourself."

Swift, meanwhile, won in three categories, including video of the year for The Fate of Ophelia and best direction for Opalite, becoming the most-awarded artist in VMAs history.

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She also took home the inaugural artist director honour, a new award which celebrates “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video”.

She dedicated the win to Dolly Parton, who died last month at 80 after a cancer diagnosis.

"Listening to her songs, it's like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she's written," Swift said. "I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time."

Read on for the full list of winners from the 2026 VMAs, which were hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California:

MTV VMAs 2026 winners: Full list of winners from Madonna to Taylor Swift

Best pop

Video of the year

Artist of the year

Song of the year

Best new artist

Best collaboration

Best hip-hop

Best R&B

Best alternative

Best dance

Best Latin

Best K-pop

Best country

Best direction

Best art direction

Best cinematography

Best editing

Best choreography

Best visual effects

Best group

Best long form video

Best album

Song of summer

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Authors

RadioTimes.com senior trends writer Molly Moss. She is sitting outside wearing a black top, holding a white teacup with a smily face on it to her mouth

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.

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