Madonna leads 2026 MTV VMAs with seven wins

Madonna was the standout winner at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, collecting seven Moon Persons as the ceremony unfolded at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 27. Three of those victories came during the televised event: artist of the year, best dance for her Confessions II short film, and best collaboration for Bring Your Love, her pairing with Sabrina Carpenter.

Taylor Swift supplied the other major storyline. She received the inaugural Artist Director Honors before unveiling a video she directed for her new song Patient Zero. Later, she returned to the stage for the night’s closing award, video of the year, which went to The Fate of Ophelia. Swift also won best direction for Opalite.

LISA opened the competitive portion of the evening by winning best pop for Dream, featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Sienna Spiro was chosen as best new artist in a category decided by fan voting during the broadcast.

A night led by its biggest nominees

The result marked a strong finish for Madonna, who entered the show with 13 nominations, more than any other artist. Swift followed with 11 nominations. She already held the record for the most Moon Persons won by an artist, with 30, before adding her awards in Los Angeles.

Sabrina Carpenter had nine nominations, placing her among the night’s principal contenders and giving her a collaboration win alongside Madonna. Ariana Grande received eight nominations, while Bruno Mars had six. PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each entered with five nominations.

The published nominees for video of the year included Grande’s hate that i made you love me, Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia, HUNTR/X’s Golden, Madonna and Carpenter’s Bring Your Love, PinkPantheress and Larsson’s Stateside, Clipse with Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for Chains & Whips, and French Montana and Max B’s Ever Since U Left Me. Swift took that prize.

The collaboration category featured Madonna and Carpenter’s Bring Your Love, PinkPantheress and Larsson’s Stateside, and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye’s Hard Part. Madonna and Carpenter won the award.

Performances and tributes

Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which aired live on CBS. Madonna also opened the show, adding a performance to a night in which she became its leading prizewinner.

The program included tributes to two influential figures in music. Kacey Musgraves performed in honor of Dolly Parton, while RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims paid tribute to George Michael. Nirvana was also recognized with the Video Vanguard Award.

Other performers named in Billboard’s account included LISA, RAYE, Spiro, Shaboozey—appearing both alone and with Gunna—and GENER8ION with Yung Lean. Their appearances placed newer and established acts together on a bill built around the awards, major live performances and special honors.

The ceremony therefore ended with two distinct records of achievement: Madonna as its most decorated winner on the night, and Swift extending an already historic VMA total while collecting the first Artist Director Honors. Swift’s final appearance also gave the event a clear closing point, with The Fate of Ophelia taking the top video prize after Madonna had dominated much of the evening.