Getty ImagesTaylor Swift took home the video of the year award as she became the most successful artist in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
The singer went into the night tied with Beyoncé on 30 wins, and went on to score the night’s top award for the visuals for her track The Fate of Ophelia, taken from her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.
The original Queen of Pop, Madonna, won artist of the year, best dance and best collaboration alongside Sabrina Carpenter for their dancefloor-filler Bring Your Love, which was the lead single from Madonna’s 2026 album Confessions II.
Swift also received the inaugural award for artist director, having written and directed the glitzy and theatrical Ophelia music video herself.
She dedicated her new award to the “ultimate showgirl”, saying: “I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time”.
The 36-year-old also debuted the music video for her new song Patient Zero – starring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson – during the Los Angeles ceremony, hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg.
The dark gothic thriller is her first music video since marrying NFL player Travis Kelce.
The song is one of four new tracks on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, which dropped last week.
Female artists awarded
In a ceremony that largely awarded female artists, Madonna went into the night with the most nominations – 13.
And her team also won best cinematography and choreography both for Confessions II, the film.
“Most of you were probably not born when I performed at the very first VMAs 43 years ago,” the 68-year-old said after winning artist of the year.
She went on to recall how she had fallen over and exposed her backside, an accident which had threatened to end her fledgling career.
Reflecting on more recent times, she added: “I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make.”
Madonna’s performance – her first VMAs show since her infamous onstage kiss with Britney Spears in 2003 – included a duet with Carpenter and an appearance from British Brat star Charli XCX.
While accepting the award for best collab, Madonna noted how Carpenter’s team had taken five days to respond.
“When five days passed and I still didn’t get connected with Sabrina and didn’t hear back from her about whether she wanted to do a song with me – five days – I DM’d [direct messaged] her,” said the star.
“She answered me back and… within weeks we were in the studio together,” she continued. “It was fabulous.”
Carpenter, who grimaced slightly at the thought of her team having kept the pop icon waiting, clarified: “My team replies. Just so everybody knows, they do respond to people.
“But I respond faster. So direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact.”
CBS via Getty ImagesSwift, Charli XCX and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink were among the celebrities walking the blue carpet ahead of the event.
Lisa became the first Asian solo artist to win the best pop category for her song Dream, which featured Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi in its music video.
The Thai rapper-singer fended off competition from some of pop music’s biggest names, including Swift, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo.
Lisa, whose real name is Lalisa Manoba, was visibly moved as she accepted her award. Addressing her fans, known as Lillies, the 29-year-old said she “wouldn’t be here without you guys”.
British singers Raye and Sienna Spiro, who won best new artist, also performed on the night, where there were tributes to the late Parton and George Michael.
Another Brit, PinkPantheress won best art direction alongside Sweden’s Zara Larsson for Stateside.
BTS picked up best group and song of the year for Swim, Olivia Rodrigo’s The Cure won best alternative and Nirvana were honoured with the Video Vanguard award.
