MTV Video Music Awards 2026: Winners List [UPDATING]

The 2026 MTV VMAs have arrived, bringing some of the biggest names in music together in Los Angeles for one of the year’s biggest nights. With Snoop Dogg hosting and Madonna opening the show for the first time in 23 years, there was already plenty to look forward to going into the night. 

Madonna entered the night with 11 nominations. At the same time, Taylor Swift followed closely behind with 9 and was already set to make history as the first recipient of the new Artist Director Honors. Nirvana was also set to receive the Video Vanguard Award. See the complete winners list here.

Artist of the Year

• Ariana Grande
• Bruno Mars
• WINNER: Madonna
• Morgan Wallen
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Taylor Swift

Best Pop

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• Charli xcx – “SS26”
• WINNER: LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
• Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
• Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”

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”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Song of the Year

• 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 + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

Best New Artist

• Bella Kay
• CORTIS
• Magnus Ferrell
• Malcolm Todd
• Myles Smith
• Sienna Spiro
• Stella Lefty

Song of Summer

• Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic Records
• 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

Best Hip-Hop

• 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 R&B

• 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”
• 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”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• Slayyyter – “DANCE…”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”

Best Latin

• Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka”
• Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
• Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO”
• KAROL G – “Papasito”
• Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
• Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA”
• Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”

Best K-Pop

• BLACKPINK – “JUMP”
• BTS – “SWIM”
• CORTIS – “REDRED”
• KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
• LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI”
• LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”

Best Country

• 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”
• Taylor Swift – “Opalite”

Best Art Direction

• Charli xcx – “SS26”
• Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• 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 – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
• 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 – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• 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”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Visual Effects

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
• RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”