Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMA history with 31 wins

Taylor Swift fans, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are yours.

The pop powerhouse received the inaugural Artist Director Honors on Sunday night, becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Previously, she was tied with Beyoncé for the title, with 30 VMAs each. The new award, which is meant to recognise artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling”, brought her total to 31.

“I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago,” Swift said in her speech, adding that she's been involved in making roughly 60 music videos, 18 of which she wrote and directed.

“You, the fans, make it so much fun,” she said. 

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Swift also debuted the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero”, during the award show. She directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Johnson and Swift portray mirror images of each other.

“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show was broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. 

Here’s what else to know about the award show.

“It's mother", were the first words uttered by Madonna as she opened the VMAs with her 2026 single “Bring Your Love" alongside collaborator Sabrina Carpenter. Later in the night, actors David Corenswet and Isabel May presented the pair with the award for best collaboration for the song.

“It’s been a while since I did one of these things,” Madonna joked. “So, I’ve prepared nothing.”

When it came time for her return to the stage to accept the award for artist of the year, Madonna began with, “First of all, I would like to thank my fingers because I can always count on them.”

If her aim was to bring the dance floor to the award show stage, she did exactly that – and then some, when Charli xcx emerged from a club bathroom to perform their reworked version of “Danceteria”. Around them? A trove of dancers and various famous friends, including actor Debi Mazar, Sombr and Julia Garner.

The show, which was delayed 20 minutes by a tight NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, wasted no time getting heart rates up.

Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, emerged as host shortly thereafter. 

“Now that is an icon,” Dogg said of Madonna, before pivoting to a joke: “She ain't a virgin no more.”

Then Teyana Taylor presented the first award for best pop to LISA for “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi.

“Thank you MTV for this amazing award,” she said while holding back tears. “All those late-night dreams brought me here today.” It was a different scene about an hour later, when she returned to the stage for her hip-hop heavy hitter “Sawadika”, which loosely translates to “Hello” in her native Thai.

There was always going to be a moment for Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves paid homage to the late, great country music icon with a cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

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Parton, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of cancer in August. She was 80.

Performances arrived fast and furious: Raye delivered a medley of her throwback soul, starting with “I Will Overcome” into “Where Is My Husband!” Bruno Mars slowed things down with “Dance With Me”. Shaboozey launched into his saloon single “Cowgirl”, before being joined by Gunna for some hybrid country-rap with their crossover track, “High Noon”. Sienna Spiro belted out her “Great Expectation”.

Later, Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims paid tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53.

Other performers included GENER8ION with Yung Lean.

If this year's VMAs felt too pop-heavy for some viewers, that was interrupted by the coveted Video Vanguard Award being awarded to Nirvana.

“They were completely original and always fearless at a time when the status quo kind of got to the point of being formulaic,” Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said of the grunge greats Sunday. “Today, their influence could be heard in virtually every generation of artists who followed.”

The award was presented to surviving members Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. Their frontman Kurt Cobain died in 1994.

“Kurt was one of one,” Novoselic said in their acceptance speech, adding that the band never imagined its sound and aesthetic would resonate with so many people. He said the music continues to endure because people are still hungry for “something real, something uncompromising” and a message that “it’s just OK to come as you are”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)