MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list
MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list
Jennifer McClellan and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYSun, September 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC
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More than 40 years after her iconic "Like a Virgin" performance rocked the very first MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna is back in a big way.
The Queen of Pop leads the 2026 nominees with 11 nods including artist of the year and song of the year for “Bring Your Love.” She’s followed closely by another pop superstar: Taylor Swift. “The Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter has nine nominations including artist of the year, video of the year and best pop for “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson clocked in with five.
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The VMAs bring together the biggest artists of the year to celebrate the top songs and music videos chosen by fans.
Snoop Dogg is set to host this year's ceremony, which will air live from Los Angeles Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and stream on MTV and Paramount+ Premium.
Here are the VMAs winners (in bold).
Video of the year -
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”– Island
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Artist of the year -
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Madonna – Warner Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Song of the year -
BTS, “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources
Best new artist -
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC
Magnus Ferrell – Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Best collaboration -
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings
Best pop -
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best hip-hop -
Cardi B featuring Kehlani, “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver, “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake, “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion, “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott, “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
Tyler, The Creator, “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records
Best R&B -
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems, “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber, “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani, “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records
Best alternative -
Geese, “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst, “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
Olivia Rodrigo, “the cure” – Geffen Records
SOMBR, “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala, “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots, “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen
Best dance -
Bebe Rexha & Faithless, “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE
Harry Styles, “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter, “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Best Latin -
Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny, “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Fuerza Regida, “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G, “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA, “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin
Best K-pop -
BLACKPINK, “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
BTS, “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
CORTIS, “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (featuring j-hope of BTS), “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Best country -
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty, “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records
Best direction -
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift, “Opalite” – Republic Records
Best art direction -
Charli xcx, “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “RUNAWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
SOMBR, “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best cinematography -
A$AP Rocky, “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Shaboozey, “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best editing -
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
LISA, “Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour” – Island
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best choreography -
GENER8ION, “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles, “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE, “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
Best visual effects -
Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
JISOO X ZAYN, “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
