Only eight MTV VMAs were handed out in this year’s broadcast. Here are the 17 winners you missed

Taylor Swift took out the top moon man at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), ending the ceremony with a nod to the late Dolly Parton as she accepted the coveted Video of the Year accolade for The Fate of Ophelia.

That was Swift’s second win of the night, with her first being the inaugural Artist Directors Honours award, which marked her 31st VMA win overall, breaking her tie with Beyoncé. Swift is now the most-awarded artist in the MTV VMAs history – she walked away with three trophies tonight from 11 nominations in the publicly voted categories.

Another big winner of the night was Madonna, who was up on stage inside Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre seemingly every five minutes to either accept an award or perform.

“I’m kind of unclear what this award is for, I’m assuming it’s the film,” the Queen of Pop said while accepting Best Dance, asking presenters Troye Sivan and Charli xcx for assistance (the latter confirmed it was for Confessions II – The Film).

Madonna walked into the night as its most-nominated artist, securing a nod in 13 categories. Of the eight awards broadcast during the event, she won three of them.

But with 17 awards not presented during the broadcast, the fact Madonna won in another four categories – walking away with seven statuettes – was only established in the post-show wash-up.

Other notable events: Sienna Spiro took out Best New Artist, Nirvana was honoured with the Video Vanguard award, and Lisa (of Blackpink fame) made history as the first K-pop solo artist to win Best Pop.

On the Australian front, it was a little quiet this year. Tame Impala was the only homegrown artist nominated, with Dracula getting a nod in the best alternative category – though Olivia Rodrigo ultimately won that with The Cure.

Here is the full list of winners and nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs.

Video of the Year

• WINNER: 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

Best New Artist

• WINNER: Sienna Spiro
• Bella Kay
• Cortis
• Magnus Ferrell
• Malcolm Todd
• Myles Smith
• Stella Lefty

Best Dance

• WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• Bebe Rexha & Faithless, New Religion
• Harry Styles, Aperture
• Lady Gaga & Doechii, Runway
• PinkPantheress, Stateside + Zara Larsson
• Slayyyter, Dance…
• Tate McRae, Nobody’s Girl

Artist of the Year

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

Best Collaboration

• WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, Bring Your Love
• Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, Chains & Whips
• French Montana x Max B, Ever Since U Left Me
• PinkPantheress, Stateside + Zara Larsson
• Shakira & Burna Boy, Dai Dai
• Teyana Taylor Campbell & Lucky Daye, Hard Part

Best Pop

• WINNER: LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, Dream
• 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

Song of the Year

• WINNER: 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, Stateside + Zara Larsson
• Raye, Where Is My Husband!

Best Hip-Hop

• WINNER: 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

• WINNER: 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

• WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, The Cure
• Geese, Taxes
• MGK & Fred Durst, Fix Ur Face
• Noah Kahan, The Great Divide
• Sombr, Homewrecker
• Tame Impala, Dracula
• Twenty One Pilots, Drag Path

Best Latin

• WINNER: Bad Bunny, Nuevayol
• Anitta with Shakira, Choka Choka
• Fuerza Regida, Tu Sancho
• Karol G, Papasito
• Rosalía feat. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, La Perla
• Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta, La Villa
• Shakira & Burna Boy, Dai Dai

Best K-Pop

• WINNER: BTS, Swim
• Blackpink, Jump
• Cortis, Redred
• Katseye, Pinky Up
• Le Sserafim feat. J-Hope of BTS, Spaghetti
• LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, Dream

Best Country

• WINNER: 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

• WINNER: Taylor Swift, Opalite
• 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

Best Art Direction

• WINNER: PinkPantheress, Stateside + Zara Larsson
• Charli xcx, SS26
• Lady Gaga & Doechii, Runway
• Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• Sombr, My Body Isn’t Ready
• Taylor Swift, The Fate of Ophelia

Best Cinematography

• WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• A$AP Rocky, Punk Rocky
• Ariana Grande, Hate That I Made You Love Me
• Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, Dream
• Shaboozey, Cowgirl
• Taylor Swift, The Fate of Ophelia

Best Editing

• WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter, House Tour
• Ariana Grande, Hate That I Made You Love Me
• Bruno Mars, I Just Might
• Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, Dream
• Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• Taylor Swift, The Fate of Ophelia

Best Choreography

• WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• Gener8ion, Storm starring Yung Lean
• Harry Styles, Dance No More
• Katseye, Pinky Up
• Tate McRae, Nobody’s Girl
• Taylor Swift, The Fate of Ophelia

Best Visual Effects

• WINNER: Ariana Grande, Hate That I Made You Love Me
• Jisoo x Zayn, Eyes Closed
• Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• PinkPantheress, Stateside + Zara Larsson
• Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, Click Clack Symphony
• Taylor Swift, The Fate of Ophelia

Best Group

• WINNER: BTS
• Blackpink
• Cortis
• Fuerza Regida
• Geese
• Katseye
• Twenty One Pilots

Best Long Form Video

• WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II – The Film
• Charli xcx, Music, Fashion, Film
• Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
• Gener8ion, Storm starring Yung Lean

Best Album

• WINNER: Madonna, Confessions II
• Drake, Iceman
• 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 Showgirl

Song of the Summer

• WINNER: Ariana Grande, Hate That I Made You Love Me
• Bruno Mars, Risk It All
• Charli xcx, Camera
• Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
• Katseye, Hootie Frutti
• Latto feat. 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

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