The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards returned to Los Angeles on Sunday night, bringing together music’s biggest stars at the Peacock Theater for a celebration of the year’s most-talked-about songs, videos and artists. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the event featured memorable performances and major wins, including Madonna’s first VMA performance in 23 years and Taylor Swift becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Swift became the inaugural recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honor, a new award recognizing artists who have developed a distinct directorial voice and helped advance visual storytelling through music videos. Nirvana also received the Video Vanguard Award, a lifetime achievement honor recognizing the band’s profound impact on music videos and pop culture. Here’s the full list of 2026 MTV Video Music Awards winners and the artists taking home a coveted Moon Person statuette: Video of the Year Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears” WINNER: Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Artist of the Year Ariana Grande Bruno Mars WINNER: Madonna Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Song of the Year WINNER: BTS, “Swim” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Huntr/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, “Golden” Madonna Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Raye, “Where Is My Husband!” Best New Artist Bella Kay Cortis Magnus Ferrell Malcolm Todd Myles Smith WINNER: Sienna Spiro Stella Lefty Best Collaboration Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains Whips” French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” WINNER: Madonna Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Shakira Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” Teyana Taylor Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” Best Pop Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Charli xcx, “SS26” WINNER: LISA feat. 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 WINNER: Cardi B feat. Kehlani, “Safe” Don Toliver, “E85” Drake, “Janice STFU” Megan Thee Stallion, “Lover Girl” Travis Scott, “Dumbo” Tyler, the Creator, “Sugar on My Tongue” Best RB WINNER: Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” Dave Tems, “Raindance” Justin Bieber, “Yukon” Kehlani, “Folded” Mariah the Scientist Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” Best Alternative Geese, “Taxes” MGK Fred Durst, “Fix Ur Face” Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, “The Cure” Sombr, “Homewrecker” Tame Impala, “Dracula” Twenty One Pilots, “Drag Path” Best Dance Bebe Rexha Faithless, “New Religion” Harry Styles, “Aperture” Lady Gaga Doechii, “Runway” WINNER: Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Slayyyter, “Dance…” Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” Best Latin Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” WINNER: Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol” Fuerza Regida, “Tu Sancho” Karol G, “Papasito” Rosalía feat. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” Ryan Castro, Kapo Gangsta, “La Villa” Shakira Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” Best K-Pop Blackpink, “Jump” WINNER: BTS, “Swim” Cortis, “Redred” Katseye, “Pinky Up” Le Sserafim (feat. J-Hope of BTS), “Spaghetti” LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Best Country WINNER: 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 starring Yung Lean” Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” WINNER: Taylor Swift, “Opalite” Best Art Direction Charli xcx, “SS26” Lady Gaga Doechii, “Runway” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” WINNER: PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Sombr, “My Body Isn’t Ready” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Cinematography A$AP Rocky, “Punk Rocky” Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” WINNER: Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Editing Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream” Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Choreography Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” Harry Styles, “Dance No More” Katseye, “Pinky Up” WINNER: Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Visual Effects WINNER: Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Jisoo x Zayn, “Eyes Closed” Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony” Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Group Blackpink WINNER: BTS Cortis Fuerza Regida Geese Katseye Twenty One Pilots Best Long Form Video Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean” WINNER: Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film” Best Album Drake, Iceman WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl Song of the Summer WINNER: Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” Bruno Mars, “Risk It All” Charli xcx, “Camera” Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” Katseye, “Hootie Frutti” Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy” Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now” Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song” Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$” Sombr, “Homewrecker” Stella Lefty, “Boston” Tame Impala and Jennie, “Dracula” Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You” ...read more read less