The 2026 MTV VMAs was hosted by Snoop Dogg and took place at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater on Sunday night.
The show aired live on CBS, MTV and Paramount+.
Madonna took the lead this year with 13 nominations, followed by Taylor Swift with 11.
Taylor was also honored with the first-ever Artist Director accolade, while Nirvana, after taking stage at the VMAs more than three decades ago, returned to accept the Video Vanguard Award.
The Life of a Showgirl Artist made history by taking the most VMA’s at home.
Check Out the Full List:
BEST GROUP:
- BTS — WINNER
- BLACKPINK
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- Twenty One Pilots
BEST LONG FORM VIDEO
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records — WINNER
- Charli xcx – “Music, Fashion, Film” – Atlantic Records
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
- GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
BEST ALBUM
- Madonna – Confessions II – Warner Records — WINNER
- Drake – Iceman – OVO/Republic Records
- Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving – Island
- Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love – Geffen Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend – Island
- Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl – Republic Records
SONG OF SUMMER
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records — WINNER
- Bruno Mars – “Risk It All” – Atlantic Records
- Charli xcx – “Camera” – Atlantic Records
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
- KATSEYE – “Hootie Frutti” – HYBE x Geffen Records
- Latto ft. Doja Cat – “Okayyy” – Steamcut / RCA Records
- Morgan Wallen – “Been by Now – Big Loud / Mercury Records
- Olivia Dean – “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” – Island
- Olivia Rodrigo – “Stupid Song” – Geffen Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
- Slayyyter – “brand new chanel$” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
- SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music / Warner Records
- Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot / Atlantic Outpost
- Tame Impala & JENNIE – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
- Taylor Swift – “I Knew It, I Knew You” – Walt Disney Records / Republic Records
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records — WINNER
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
- GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears” – Island
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Madonna – Warner Records — WINNER
- Ariana Grande – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
- Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – Island
- Taylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
- BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC — WINNER
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
- HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
- Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
- Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records — WINNER
- Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
- CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
- Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
- Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
- Myles Smith – RCA Records
- Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
BEST COLLABORATION
- Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records — WINNER
- Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
- French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
- Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST POP
- LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records — WINNER
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
- Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead” – Geffen Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
- Cardi B ft. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records — WINNER
- Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/Atlantic Records
- Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
- Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
- Travis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
- Tyler, The Creator – “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
BEST R&B
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records — WINNER
- Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
- Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
- Justin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
- Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records
- Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
- Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records – WINNER
- Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
- mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
- Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
- SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
- twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
BEST DANCE
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records — WINNER
- Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
- Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
BEST LATIN
- Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment — WINNER
- Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
- Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
- KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
- Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records
- Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./Sony Music US Latin
- Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
BEST K-POP
- BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC — WINNER
- BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
- CORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
- LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
- LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
BEST COUNTRY
- Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records — WINNER
- Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
- Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
- Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
- Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
- Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
- Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records
BEST DIRECTION
- Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records — WINNER
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
- GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
BEST ART DIRECTION
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records — WINNER
- Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
- Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records — WINNER
- A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
- Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST EDITING
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island — WINNER
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
- Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
- LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island — WINNER
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records — WINNER
- GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
- Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
- KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
- Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records — WINNER
- JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
- Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
- PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
- RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
- Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Maliha Javed is an entertainment journalist with one year of experience, covering celebrity controversies, viral moments, and trending stories. She navigates the fast-paced digital landscape, breaking down complex narratives into clear, engaging reports that keep readers informed and connected to the latest entertainment buzz.
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