MTV VMAs 2026: Complete Winners List (Live Updates)

Most Shocking MTV VMAs Moments: Britney Spears & Madonna's Kiss, Kanye West & Taylor Swift and More

It’s time to zero in on the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Sept. 27 event, hosted by Snoop Dogg at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, is guaranteed to have a star-studded list of attendees, including Madonna, Taylor Swift and Nirvana.

While life is a mystery, it’s no secret who’s leading the nominees. Madonna—who’s opening the show with her first VMAs performance in 23 years—heads into the night with 13 nods, including social categories.

And if you wanna party with somebody who also knows what it’s like to take the VMAs stage, look no further than Swift—up for 11 Moon Persons and the recipient of the first-ever Artist Director Honors. And after patiently waiting, fans are excited to see the music video for her song "Patient Zero."

The VMAs will also get into the rock spirit by presenting Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award. To see more of the nominees—including Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande and Bruno Mars—and keep up with the winners, read on.

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"

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

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, "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
RAYE, "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!"

Best New Artist

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

Video Vanguard AwardWINNER: Nirvana

Artist Director Honors

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Kate Green/Getty Images

Best Collaboration

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

Best Pop

Ariana Grande, "hate that i made you love me"
Charli xcx, "SS26"
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 Hip-Hop

Cardi B ft. 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"

Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

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, "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
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" 

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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"

Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images

SOCIAL CATEGORIES:

Best Album

Drake, Iceman 
Madonna, Confessions II 
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

Best Group

BLACKPINK
BTS
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots

Best Long-Form Video

Charli xcx, "Music, Fashion, Film" 
Ella Langley, "Choosin’ Texas" 
GENER8ION, "STORM starring Yung Lean"
Madonna, "Confessions II – The Film" 

Song of Summer

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 ft. 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 & JENNIE, "Dracula"
Taylor Swift, "I Knew It, I Knew You"

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App