Taylor Swift turns into the most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs historical past

Taylor Swift broke data on the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, as she is understood to do. The pop powerhouse obtained the inaugural Artist Director Honours on Sunday evening, changing into the most-awarded artist in VMA historical past.

Beforehand, she was tied with Beyoncé for the title, with 30 VMAs every. The brand new award is supposed to recognise artists ‘whose work behind the digital camera has expanded the chances of music video and superior the artwork of visible storytelling’.

She additionally took residence the highest prize of the evening, ‘Video of the 12 months’, for ‘The Destiny of Ophelia’ from her album ‘The Lifetime of a Showgirl’. Swift devoted the award to the ‘final showgirl’, the late Dolly Parton. Swift additionally debuted the music video for her new tune, ‘Affected person Zero’, in the course of the award present. She directed the visible, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Johnson and Swift painting mirror photos of one another. ‘Affected person Zero’ can also be her first single since marrying Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce at Madison Sq. Backyard in July.

The 2-hour present was broadcast stay on CBS from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

Madonna opened the starry award present and gained huge. “It’s mom,” had been the primary phrases uttered by Madonna as she opened the VMAs along with her 2026 single ‘Carry Your Love’ alongside collaborator Sabrina Carpenter. Later within the evening, the pair gained the award for ‘Greatest Collaboration’ for the tune.

When it got here time for her return to the stage to just accept the award for artist of the yr, Madonna started with, “Initially, I wish to thank my fingers as a result of I can all the time rely on them.” Returning a 3rd time to just accept for finest dance, she merely stated, “I got here alive on the dance ground. We’re all equal on the dance ground.”

If her intention was to convey the dance ground to the award present stage, Madonna did precisely that in her opening quantity after which some, when Charli XCX emerged from a membership toilet to carry out their reworked model of ‘Danceteria’. Round them? A trove of dancers and varied well-known mates, together with actor Debi Mazar, Sombr and Julia Garner.

The present, which was delayed 20 minutes by a decent NFL recreation, wasted no time getting coronary heart charges up. Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, emerged as host shortly thereafter.

Teyana Taylor then introduced the primary award for ‘Greatest Pop’ to LISA for ‘Dream’, that includes Kentaro Sakaguchi.

Performances embody a tribute to Dolly Parton. There was all the time going to be an enormous musical tribute to Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves paid homage to the late, nice nation music icon with a canopy of Parton’s ‘I Will At all times Love You’. Parton, whose hovering vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and glowing costumes outlined her rise from a log cabin within the Tennessee mountains to the peak of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of most cancers in August. She was 80.

Performances arrived quick and livid: Raye delivered a medley of her throwback soul, together with ‘I Will Overcome’ and ‘The place Is My Husband!’

Bruno Mars slowed issues down with ‘Dance With Me’. Shaboozey launched into his saloon single ‘Cowgirl’, earlier than being joined by Gunna for some hybrid country-rap with their crossover monitor, ‘Excessive Midday’.

‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst and actor Brandon Sklenar launched the ultimate efficiency of the evening and arguably its finest – a partial reenactment of GENER8ION and Yung Lean’s ‘STORM’ music video – which started with Lean smashing a VMA Moon individual’s trophy.

Sienna Spiro belted out her ‘Nice Expectation’. It was a welcome introduction to the brand new expertise, who was named ‘Greatest New Artist’ shortly thereafter.

Orville Peck launched a tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years in the past on Christmas Day. He was 53.

Nirvana took residence the 2026 Video Vanguard Award. If this yr’s VMAs felt too pop-heavy for some viewers, it modified when the coveted Video Vanguard Award was awarded to Nirvana. “They had been utterly unique and all the time fearless at a time when the established order form of bought to the purpose of being formulaic,” Public Enemy rapper Chuck D stated of the grunge greats.

The award was introduced to surviving members Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. Frontman Kurt Cobain died in 1994. “Kurt was certainly one of one,” Novoselic stated of their acceptance speech, including that the band by no means imagined its sound and aesthetic would resonate with so many individuals. He stated the music continues to endure as a result of individuals are nonetheless hungry for ‘one thing actual, one thing uncompromising’ and a message: “It’s simply OK to return as you might be.”