Taylor Swift takes a sixth Video of the Year at the VMAs; Madonna wins seven

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ran Sunday night from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg hosted. Madonna opened the show for the first time in twenty-three years.

LOS ANGELES · September 28, 2026 at 9:00 PM Pacific · By Gospel News Access Staff

Taylor Swift won Video of the Year at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night for “The Fate of Ophelia,” her sixth win in the category and a record no other artist has matched. She thanked Dolly Parton from the stage.

Madonna was the evening’s biggest winner with seven awards, among them Artist of the Year for “Confessions II,” the sequel to her 2005 album. She opened the ceremony with her first VMAs performance in twenty-three years, and had arrived the most-nominated artist of the night with thirteen, a career high.

Snoop Dogg hosted from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

Swift also took Best Director for “Opalite” and received the inaugural Artist Director Honors, a category created this year for work that builds connected narratives across a body of work. She premiered the video for “Patient Zero” during the broadcast.

LISA won Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Cardi B, featuring Kehlani, won Best Hip-Hop for “Safe.” Nirvana received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to Dolly Parton. Raye, sombr and Teddy Swims performed a tribute to George Michael.

Reported by the Music Desk of Newswire Hollywood and carried here by arrangement. Full coverage, including the red carpet, is at newswirehollywood.com.