Madonna Wins Seven VMAs as Taylor Swift Takes Video of the Year in Los Angeles

Madonna returns to open the ceremony

Madonna returned to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, opening the telecast for the fifth time in her career. The performance marked her first appearance at the ceremony in 23 years, following her 2003 opening performance with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Building her set around her album Confessions II, Madonna performed "Bring Your Love" alongside Sabrina Carpenter before transitioning into "Danceteria Afterhours" with Charli XCX. The opening sequence incorporated stage sets shaped like dressing rooms and featured cameo appearances from Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Sombr and Seth Rogen. Madonna took home the award for best collaboration with Carpenter for "Bring Your Love", reflecting on their creative dynamic backstage.

When I show up late, she shows up early.

Top honors and leaderboard records

Madonna led the evening with seven total awards, taking home trophies for best collaboration, best dance for "Confessions II - The Film", and artist of the year. The wins brought her career total to 26 competitive Video Music Awards, placing her third on the all-time list behind Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Swift took home the top prize of video of the year for "The Fate of Ophelia", an entry she directed and wrote herself. South Korean group BTS finished as the night's runners-up with three awards, while Carpenter and Ariana Grande each secured two trophies. K-pop singer Lisa won the best pop video award for her solo track "Dream", addressing her fanbase during the acceptance speech.

I wouldn't be here without you guys. Thank you so much for your love and support.

Tributes, debuts and special awards

The 2026 ceremony introduced new honors and paid tribute to late musicians across several eras of popular music. Swift received the inaugural VMA Artist Director Honors, celebrating her self-directed videography across past projects, and premiered the music video for her single "Patient Zero", starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Swift dedicated her video of the year award to Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 from cancer, while Kacey Musgraves delivered a live musical tribute to Parton. Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award three decades after the death of frontman Kurt Cobain, with surviving band members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear accepting the trophy from Public Enemy founder Chuck D. Additional tribute performances featured RAYE, SOMBR, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert honoring the catalog of George Michael.

Broadcast delays and ceremony details

Rapper Snoop Dogg hosted the live broadcast from downtown Los Angeles at his own request. The telecast aired live on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streamed on Paramount+, produced by Gunpowder & Sky under producer Van Toffler. Domestic viewers tuning in on television faced a 22-minute broadcast delay caused by the overrun of an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. During the delay, digital and cable broadcasts ran archival VMAs coverage hosted by Donnie Wahlberg until the game concluded. Madonna closed out the telecast with the artist of the year trophy, besting nominees Bruno Mars, Grande, Swift, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen before offering advice to the audience.

I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make. My hope for all of you here tonight is that you... do the same. Find yourself and believe in yourself.