The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) lit up the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, giving away a spectacular night for global pop culture, and that took the center stage. The MTV VMAs 2026 night was hosted by Snoop Dogg.
The pop culture ceremony brought in many big names under one roof. The biggest names were Taylor Swift, Madonna, BTS, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, and Bad Bunny, along with many others shining in the spotlight across all the major categories.
The night unfolded and brought many awards for all. Taylor Swift secured Video of the Year and Best Direction, while Madonna emerged as the most awarded artist of the night. BTS, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Rodrigo also added significant wins.
These winning names highlight what global power stars at their peak look like.
Madonna was the telecast’s biggest winner, taking home seven prizes in total, including three onstage wins: Artist of the Year, Best Dance (her Confessions II short film), and Best Collaboration (“Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter).
The next big winner: Taylor Swift, who accepted the first-ever Artist Director Honors (before premiering her latest self-directed video for her brand-new track “Patient Zero”) and returned to take home the final award of the night: Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia”; she also won Best Direction for “Opalite.” (Source: Billboard)
MTV VMAs 2026 Winners List (Category-Wise)
Video of the Year
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Ariana Grande -“hate that i made you love me”
Bruno Mars -“I Just Might”
GENER8ION -“STORM”
Madonna -“Confessions II -The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter -“Tears”
WINNER: Taylor Swift -“The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year
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Ariana Grande
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Bruno Mars
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Morgan Wallen
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Sabrina Carpenter
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Taylor Swift
WINNER: Madonna
Song of the Year
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Ella Langley -“Choosin’ Texas”
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HUNTR/X -“Golden”
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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter -“Bring Your Love”
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Olivia Dean -“Man I Need”
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PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson -“Stateside”
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RAYE -“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
WINNER: BTS -“Swim”
Best New Artist
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Bella Kay
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CORTIS
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Magnus Ferrell
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Malcolm Todd
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Myles Smith
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Stella Lefty
WINNER: Sienna Spiro
Best Collaboration
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Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice -“Chains & Whips”
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French Montana x Max B -“Ever Since U Left Me”
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PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson -“Stateside”
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Shakira & Burna Boy -“Dai Dai”
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Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye -“Hard Part”
WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter -“Bring Your Love”
Genre-Specific Categories
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Category Type
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Award Category
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Winner
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Genre-Specific
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Best Pop
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LISA -“Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
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Genre-Specific
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Best Hip-Hop
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Cardi B feat. Kehlani -“Safe”
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Genre-Specific
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Best R&B
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Bruno Mars -“I Just Might”
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Genre-Specific
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Best Alternative
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Olivia Rodrigo -“the cure”
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Genre-Specific
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Best Dance
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Madonna -“Confessions II -The Film”
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Genre-Specific
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Best Latin
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Bad Bunny -“NUEVAYoL”
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Genre-Specific
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Best K-Pop
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BTS -“SWIM”
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Genre-Specific
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Best Country
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Ella Langley -“Choosin’ Texas”
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Technical
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Best Direction
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Taylor Swift -“Opalite”
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Technical
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Best Art Direction
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PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson -“Stateside”
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Technical
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Best Cinematography
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Madonna -“Confessions II -The Film”
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Technical
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Best Editing
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Sabrina Carpenter -“House Tour”
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Technical
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Best Choreography
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Madonna -“Confessions II -The Film”
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Technical
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Best Visual Effects
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Ariana Grande -“hate that i made you love me”
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Social
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Best Group
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BTS
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Social
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Best Long Form Video
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Madonna -Confessions II -The Film
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Social
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Best Album
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Madonna -Confessions II
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Social
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Song of Summer
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Ariana Grande -“Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Special Highlights
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Taylor Swift won Video of the Year and Best Direction
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Madonna emerged as the most awarded artist of the night
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BTS won Song of the Year, Best Group, and Best K-Pop
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Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, and Olivia Rodrigo also secured major wins
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Hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theatre, Los Angeles