Madonna ProfileThe 2026 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped up in Los Angeles, and it's been a big year – and a triumphant return – for Madonna.
Fresh from releasing her stellar comeback album Confessions II back in July, Madonna entered the fray of this year's VMAs with a massive 13 nominations. In doing so, she matched Lady Gaga's 2010 record which saw her become the most-nominated artist in VMA history for a single year.
At the time of the nominations being revealed earlier this month, it was already on track to be an impressive affair for Madonna. Having made her debut at the first edition of the awards back in 1984 as a performer, she wouldn't take home an honour of her own until 1986.
That, however, kicked off an impressive streak which – when it ended in 1999 – had left Madonna leading the charge as the most awarded artist in the ceremony's history, with 20 to her name. In the years since, numerous artists have overtaken her, including Gaga, Beyoncé, and current record-holder Taylor Swift.
However, 2026 was to be a big one for Madonna. Appearing as the first performer of the evening, it was her first time performing at the VMAs since 2003, when she made headlines for kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
This time, there was less kissing, and more collaboration, with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX helping to complement performances of Bring Your Love and Danceteria Afterhours.
That set the tone for a massive seven awards for the music icon, who took out Artist Of The Year, Best Collaboration (with Carpenter), Best Album for Confessions II, and Best Dance, Best Long Form Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Choreography for Confessions II – The Film.
Some comments were also made about Madonna's numerous acceptance speeches, though phrases like "First of all I would like to thank my fingers, because I can always count on them," are more iconic than rambling as some fans have offered.
While Taylor Swift was in second place with 11 nominations, Swift only took home three awards, including Video Of The Year for The Fate Of Ophelia and Best Direction for Opalite. Alongside that first win as a director, Swift was also named the inaugural recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
Capitalising on the spotlight, Swift also used the opportunity to unveil her newest track, Patient Zero.
BTS took out three awards as well, including Best Group, and Song Of The Year Best K-Pop for Swim.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter both took home two honours, with Grande's Hate That I Made You Love Me awarded Song Of The Summer and Best Visual Effects, while Carpenter shared Best Collaboration with Madonna as House Tour nabbed Best Editing.
Locally, Tame Impala didn’t take out either Best Alternative or Song Of The Summer for Dracula, though Troye Sivan was on hand to present Madonna with Best Dance.
Elsewhere on the night, host Snoop Dogg helped run an event which featured numerous tributes. While Kacey Musgraves honoured the memory of Dolly Parton, so too did Swift refer to her as the "ultimate showgirl".
Additionally, four-time winner George Michael was also honoured in the lead-up to the tenth anniversary of his passing, with the likes of Sombr, Raye, Teddy Swims, and Adam Lambert sharing renditions of his work.
Finally, five-time winners Nirvana were presented with the Video Vanguard Award, with members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear all on hand to accept the honour.
2026 MTV Video Music Awards – Winners
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 (WINNER)
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Madonna – Warner Records (WINNER)
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Song of the Year
BTS – Swim – BIGHIT MUSIC (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
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 feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./RCA Records (WINNER)
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 ft. Kehlani – Safe – Atlantic Records (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
SOMBR – Homewrecker – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala – Dracula – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots – Drag Path – Fueled By Ramen
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL – Rimas Entertainment (WINNER)
Fuerza Regida – TU SANCHO – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G – Papasito – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía ft. 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 (WINNER)
CORTIS – REDRED – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE – PINKY UP – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – SPAGHETTI – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
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 (WINNER)
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter – DANCE… – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl – RCA Records
Best Country
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records (WINNER)
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 Group
BLACKPINK
BTS (WINNER)
CORTIS
FLO
Fuerza Regida
Geese
KATSEYE
Twenty One Pilots
Best Longform Video
Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
GENER8ION – STORM starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records (WINNER)
Best Album
Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic Records
Madonna – Confessions II – Warner Records (WINNER)
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving – Island
Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter, – Man’s Best Friend – Island
Taylor Swift – The Life Of A Showgirl – Republic Records
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me – Republic Records (WINNER)
Bruno Mars – Risk It All – Atlantic Records
Charli xcx – Camera – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
KATSEYE – Hootie Frutti – HYBE x Geffen Records
Latto ft. Doja Cat – Okayyy – Steamcut / RCA Records
Morgan Wallen – Been By Now – Big Loud / Mercury Records
Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall in Love) – Island
Olivia Rodrigo – Stupid Song – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour – Island
Slayyyter – Brand New Chanel$ – RECORDS/Columbia Records
sombr – Homewrecker – SMB Music / Warner Records
Stella Lefty – Boston – Sandlot / Atlantic Outpost
Tame Impala & JENNIE – Dracula – Columbia Records
Taylor Swift – I Knew It, I Knew You – Walt Disney Records / Republic 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 (WINNER)
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – SS26 – Atlantic 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 (WINNER)
SOMBR – My Body Isn’t Ready – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia – Republic Records
Best Cinematography
A$APRocky – PUNKROCKY –A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande – hate that i made you love me – Republic Records
LISA – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records (WINNER)
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 feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour – Island (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
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 (WINNER)
JISOO X ZAYN – Eyes Closed – Warner Records
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony. – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia – Republic Records
