MTV VMAs 2026 full winners list: BTS win big, Madonna rules the night with multiple trophies
Madonna leads trophy haul while BTS’ Swim takes song and K-pop honours
BTS added two more awards to their shelf on Sunday night (September 27), as the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards unfolded at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The group won song of the year for Swim, beating a field that included Ella Langley's Choosin' Texas, HUNTR/X's Golden, RAYE's WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! and Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter's Bring Your Love. The track also won best K-pop, where BTS edged out BLACKPINK, CORTIS, KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM (featuring BTS's own j-hope) and LISA.
A strong night for K-pop
LISA had her own win. The BLACKPINK star took the first award of the evening, best pop, for "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. BIGHIT MUSIC's CORTIS, nominated for best new artist, lost to Sienna Spiro, whom fans picked through voting during the show.
Madonna and Taylor Swift dominate
Madonna was the night's biggest winner. She arrived as the most-nominated artist with 13 nods and left with seven trophies. Three of them were handed out on stage: artist of the year, best dance for her Confessions II short film, and best collaboration for "Bring Your Love" with Carpenter.
Taylor Swift, who came in with 11 nominations and holds the record of 30 trophies, was the first recipient of the new Artist Director Honors. She then premiered the self-directed video for her new song "Patient Zero". She won best direction for "Opalite" and closed the night with video of the year for "The Fate of Ophelia".
Other leading nominees included Carpenter (nine), Ariana Grande (eight), Bruno Mars (six), and PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson (five each).
Performances and honours
Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which aired live on CBS. Madonna opened the show, and Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to Dolly Parton. RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims honoured George Michael, and Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award. LISA, RAYE, Spiro, Shaboozey (with and without Gunna), and GENER8ION with Yung Lean also performed.
2026 MTV VMAs: Full list of winners
Video of the year: Taylor Swift – "The Fate of Ophelia"
Artist of the year: Madonna
Song of the year: BTS – "Swim"
Best new artist: Sienna Spiro
Best collaboration: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – "Bring Your Love"
Best pop: LISA – "Dream" feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best hip-hop: Cardi B feat. Kehlani – "Safe"
Best R&B: Bruno Mars – "I Just Might"
Best alternative: Olivia Rodrigo – "the cure"
Best dance: Madonna – "Confessions II – The Film"
Best Latin: Bad Bunny – "NUEVAYoL"
Best K-pop: BTS – "Swim"
Best country: Ella Langley – "Choosin' Texas"
Best direction: Taylor Swift – "Opalite"
Best art direction: PinkPantheress – "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Best cinematography: Madonna – "Confessions II – The Film"
Best editing: Sabrina Carpenter – "House Tour"
Best choreography: Madonna – "Confessions II – The Film"
Best visual effects: Ariana Grande – "hate that i made you love me"
