The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 2026. It was broadcast live on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streamed on Paramount+'s premium tier. The show was hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg.
The ceremony recognized outstanding music videos and songs released between June 20, 2025, to June 18, 2026. Madonna was the most nominated and awarded artist, winning seven trophies out of thirteen nominations. Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" won Video of the Year. Nirvana was honored with the Video Vanguard Award, and Swift with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honor. The music video for Swift's song "Patient Zero" premiered during the broadcast. The CBS and MTV telecast, along with a repeat airing on MTV, drew 8.43 million viewers in the United States, excluding streaming, the most-watched since 2015.
Performances On September 16, 2026, Madonna was announced as opening performer, her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years. The first round of performers were announced on September 17. The performers for the George Michael tribute were announced on September 22. A tribute to Dolly Parton by Kacey Musgraves was announced on September 23. Artist(s) Song(s) Madonna "One Step Away" "Bring Your Love" "Danceteria Afterhours" Raye "I Will Overcome""Where Is My Husband!" Bruno Mars "Dance With Me" Kacey Musgraves Tribute to Dolly Parton"I Will Always Love You" Shaboozey "Cowgirl""High Noon" Lisa "Sawadika" Sienna Spiro "Great Expectation" SombrRayeTeddy SwimsAdam LambertMeekMNEKSaint Harison Tribute to George Michael"Faith""Father Figure""I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)""Careless Whisper""Freedom! '90" Gener8ionYung Lean "Storm II"
Presenters Presenters were announced on September 24, 2026. Additional presenters were announced on September 26, 2026.
Teyana Taylor – presented Best Pop Paris Hilton – introduced Bruno Mars Ciara Miller – introduced Shaboozey and Gunna Isabel May and David Corenswet – presented Best Collaboration Tyla – introduced Lisa Chuck D – presented the Video Vanguard Award to Nirvana Rachel Dratch and Emma Bunton – presented Artist of the Year Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli – introduced Sienna Spiro Dakota Johnson – presented the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors Charli XCX and Troye Sivan – presented Best Dance Orville Peck – introduced the George Michael tribute Alex Warren – presented Best New Artist Brandon Sklenar and Jeff Probst – introduced Gener8ion and Yung Lean Snoop Dogg (host) – presented Video of the Year
Winners and nominees The nominees were announced on August 18, 2026. The nominees in the social categories–Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album and Song of Summer–were announced on September 18, with additional nominees for Best Album announced on the next day. Madonna led with thirteen nominations, tying Lady Gaga 2010 record for the most nominations for an artist in a single year. She is followed by Taylor Swift with eleven; Sabrina Carpenter with nine; Ariana Grande with eight; Bruno Mars with seven; Ella Langley, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson with five; and Charli XCX, Gener8ion, Katseye, Lisa, Olivia Rodrigo, and Yung Lean with four.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Voted categories The winners of the following categories were chosen by fan votes. Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" 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"Madonna Ariana Grande Bruno Mars Morgan Wallen Sabrina Carpenter Taylor SwiftBTS – "Swim" Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" Huntrix – "Golden" Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – "Bring Your Love" Olivia Dean – "Man I Need" PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson" Raye – "Where Is My Husband!"Sienna Spiro Bella Kay Cortis Magnus Ferrell Malcolm Todd Myles Smith Stella LeftyMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter – "Bring Your Love" Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – "Chains & Whips" French Montana and Max B – "Ever Since U Left Me" PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson" Shakira and Burna Boy – "Dai Dai" Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – "Hard Part"Lisa – "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi Ariana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" Charli XCX – "SS26" Olivia Rodrigo – "Drop Dead" Sabrina Carpenter – "House Tour" Tate McRae – "Nobody's Girl" Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia"Cardi B featuring Kehlani – "Safe" Don Toliver – "E85" Drake – "Janice STFU" Megan Thee Stallion – "Lover Girl" Travis Scott – "Dumbo" Tyler, The Creator – "Sugar on My Tongue"Bruno Mars – "I Just Might" Chris Brown – "It Depends / Obvious" Dave and Tems – "Raindance" Justin Bieber – "Yukon" Kehlani – "Folded" Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis – "Is It a Crime"Olivia Rodrigo – "The Cure" Geese – "Taxes" MGK and Fred Durst – "Fix Ur Face" Noah Kahan – "The Great Divide" Sombr – "Homewrecker" Tame Impala – "Dracula" Twenty One Pilots – "Drag Path"Bad Bunny – "Nuevayol" Anitta and Shakira – "Choka Choka" Fuerza Regida – "Tu Sancho" Karol G – "Papasito" Rosalía featuring Yahritza y su Esencia – "La Perla" Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – "La Villa" Shakira and Burna Boy – "Dai Dai"BTS – "Swim" Blackpink – "Jump" Cortis – "RedRed" Katseye – "Pinky Up" Le Sserafim featuring J-Hope – "Spaghetti" Lisa – "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi Madonna – Confessions II – The Film Bebe Rexha and Faithless – "New Religion" Harry Styles – "Aperture" Lady Gaga and Doechii – "Runway" PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson" Slayyyter – "Dance..." Tate McRae – "Nobody's Girl"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"BTS Blackpink Cortis Flo Fuerza Regida Geese Katseye Twenty One PilotsMadonna – Confessions II – The Film Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" Gener8ion – "Storm" starring Yung LeanMadonna – Confessions II Bruno Mars – The Romantic Drake – Iceman Ella Langley – Dandelion Harry Styles – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally 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 ShowgirlAriana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" Bruno Mars – "Risk It All" Charli XCX – "Camera" Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas" Katseye – "Hootie Frutti" Latto featuring 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$" Sombr – "Homewrecker" Stella Lefty – "Boston" Tame Impala and Jennie – "Dracula" Taylor Swift – "I Knew It, I Knew You"
Professional categories The winners of the following categories were chosen by industry professionals.
Taylor Swift – "Opalite" (Director: Taylor Swift) Ariana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" (Director: Christian Breslauer) Bruno Mars – "I Just Might" (Directors: Bruno Mars and Daniel Ramos) Gener8ion – "Storm" starring Yung Lean (Director: Romain Gavras) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Director: TORSO) Sabrina Carpenter – "House Tour" (Directors: Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley) PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson" (Art Director: Furmaan Ahmed) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Art Director: TORSO and Arthur de Borman) Lady Gaga and Doechii – "Runway" (Art Director: Freyja Bardell) Charli XCX – "SS26" (Art Director: Nicola Scarlino) Sombr – "My Body Isn't Ready" (Art Director: Olivia McManus) Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" (Art Director: Ethan Tobman) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Director of Photography: Daniel Landin) A$AP Rocky – "Punk Rocky" (Director of Photography: Jake Gabbay) Ariana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" (Director of Photography: Janusz Kamiński) Lisa – "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi (Director of Photography: Eumko) Shaboozey – "Cowgirl" (Director of Photography: Mitchell Maher Perrin) Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" (Director of Photography: Rodrigo Prieto) Sabrina Carpenter – "House Tour" (Editor: Sofia Kerpan at Modern Post) Ariana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" (Editor: Luis Caraza Peimbert) Bruno Mars – "I Just Might" (Editor: Daniel Ramos) Lisa – "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi (Editor: Kwon O-jun) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Editors: Will Town, Lauren Friedman and Danny Tull) Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" (Editor: Chancler Haynes) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Choreographer: Damien Jalet, Megan Lawson, Young Boy Dancing Group and Nicolas Huchard) Gener8ion – "Storm" starring Yung Lean (Choreographer: Damien Jalet) Harry Styles – "Dance No More" (Choreographer: Ryan Heffington) Katseye – "Pinky Up" (Choreographers: Grant Gilmore, Sohey Sugihara, Sergio Reis, and Zacc Milne) Tate McRae – "Nobody's Girl" (Choreographer: (LA)HORDE, Arthur Harel, Marine Brutti, and Jonathan Debrouwer) Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" (Choreographers: Mandy Moore and Amanda Balen) Ariana Grande – "Hate That I Made You Love Me" (Visual Effects: Mathematic Studio, Hadi Dahrouge, and Jehan Bouazza) Jisoo and Zayn – "Eyes Closed" (Visual Effects: Serhii Solodkyi) Madonna – Confessions II – The Film (Visual Effects: Monumental) PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson" (Visual Effects: Copenhagen VFX) Raye featuring Hans Zimmer – "Click Clack Symphony" (Visual Effects: Frame23 Studio) Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia" (Visual Effects: Parliament)
Special awards The recipient of the Video Vanguard was announced on September 9, 2026. The recipient of the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors was announced on September 21.
Video Vanguard Award: Nirvana MTV VMA Artist Director Honors: Taylor Swift
Artists with multiple wins and nominations + Artists who received multiple awards Wins Artist 7 Madonna 3 BTS Taylor Swift 2 Ariana Grande Sabrina Carpenter + Artists who received multiple nominations Nominations Artist 13 Madonna 11 Taylor Swift 9 Sabrina Carpenter8 Ariana Grande 7 Bruno Mars 5 Ella Langley PinkPantheress Zara Larsson 4 Charli XCX Gener8ion Katseye Kentaro Sakaguchi Lisa Olivia Rodrigo Yung Lean 3 BTS Cortis Harry Styles Olivia Dean Shakira Sombr Stella Lefty Tate McRae2Blackpink Burna Boy Doechii Drake Fuerza Regida GeeseKehlani Lady Gaga Morgan Wallen Raye ShaboozeySlayyyter Tame Impala Twenty One Pilots
Music Videos with multiple wins and nominations + Music Videos that received multiple awardsWinsArtistMusic Video 4 Madonna Confessions II – The Film + Music Videos that received multiple nominationsNominations ArtistMusic Video 9 Madonna Confessions II – The Film 7 Ariana Grande "Hate That I Made You Love Me" Taylor Swift "The Fate of Ophelia" 5 PinkPantheress "Stateside + Zara Larsson" 4 Bruno Mars "I Just Might" Ella Langley "Choosin' Texas" Gener8ion "Storm" starring Yung Lean Lisa (featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi) "Dream" Sabrina Carpenter "House Tour" 3 Tate McRae "Nobody's Girl" 2 BTS "Swim" Charli XCX "SS26" Katseye "Pinky Up" Lady Gaga & Doechii "Runway" Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter "Bring Your Love" Shaboozey "Cowgirl" Shakira & Burna Boy "Dai Dai" Sombr "Homewrecker" Stella Lefty "Boston"
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