A battle between a 68-year-old pop icon and the most powerful woman in entertainment has ended in favour of the veteran at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles Monday morning Australian time.
Madonna took home three trophies including Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift left with two, but one of them was the night’s biggest prize.
Madonna led the nominations for the first time in 28 years, her 13 nods pipping Swift’s 11.
Madonna’s big night
Sabrina Carpenter joined Madonna to open the show with a version of Bring Your Love, their duet from Madonna’s 2026 album Confessions II, which later won the Best Collaboration award on the night. Charli XCX then emerged to perform their track Danceteria Afterhours.
This opener won’t grab the headlines like 2003’s infamous kiss, but reminded fans and naysayers of Madge’s continued skills as a performer.
Madonna beat just about everyone — Taylor, Sabrina, Ariana — to win the Artist of the Year award and backed that up with Best Dance to bring her haul for the night to three.
“Most of you were probably not born, but I performed at the first MTV awards 43 years ago,” Madonna said in her speech accepting Artist of the Year.
As with any awards show, the night began with a focus on arrivals.
Here’s what some of the stars wore on the red carpet.
Taylor Swift has the last laugh
While Madonna took home more trophies, Swift did get the big one, winning Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia.
Swift was also a record breaker before this year’s ceremony even started.
Tied with Beyoncé at 30 wins apiece before the 2026 VMAs, she took the lead by winning the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, announced before the ceremony began. As a director, Swift has won four VMAs — more than anyone in history.
She used the moment to premiere the video for her song Patient Zero, featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
Swift left with two awards from her 11 nominations.
Snoop Dogg promises weed to winners
Snoop Dogg arrived on stage to rapturous applause and his song Who Am I (What’s My Name)? from his 1993 album Doggystyle as the host of the awards show.
It was a sign of things to come, with Snoop classics playing in the background whenever he hit the stage.
“Welcome to the 2026 MTV VMAs,” Snoop Dogg said.
“I’m your host with the most, the D-O-double-G Big Snoop Dogg.”
Snoop Dogg hosted the MTV Video Music Awards held in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images: Rich Polk/Billboard)
Snoop told the audience that Madonna killed it with her performance, which opened the show.
“Now, that is an icon,”
he said.
“One thing I want to say is, she ain’t a virgin no more.”
Snoop went on to say that when he was first asked to host the awards show, he asked if it would be in Los Angeles.
When the answer was no, that was his answer too, with the rapper telling organisers he was busy.
“Then they called me back and said, ‘Hold on, Mr Dogg, It’s in LA now.'”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be well aware that Snoop Dogg is more than just a little bit partial to taking a puff or two of marijuana.
He went on to promise the biggest party the VMAs had ever seen, and some special “sticky-icky-icky” to the winners.
“But everybody else, look under your seat,” he said before quipping.
“There should be nothing there.”
Snoop gave a roll call of some of his “favourite people” who he said he was grateful to be in the company of at the ceremony.
“Madonna, Taylor Swift. Shaboozey, Lisa, Bruno Mars, and my girl, Raye, just to name a few,” he said.
“Now, we got a lot of people in here tonight that’s ready to party.”
He also said the show would honour some of the most iconic bands and artists of all time including Nirvana, George Michael and Dolly Parton.
For his day one fans, Snoop harkened back to his Deeez Nuuuts skit on Dr Dre’s The Chronic.
He then introduced Teyana Taylor to introduce the first award of the night.
Nirvana, Dolly Parton, George Michael honoured
If you need proof the VMAs is all about pop: this year they discontinued the Best Rock Video award.
Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear of Nirvana accept the Video Vanguard Award. ( Getty Images: Rich Polk/Billboard)
But the impact of grunge icons Nirvana defies genre, their Vanguard Award further evidence of their enduring influence.
“Their sound was loud, beautiful, daringly open,” Public Enemy’s Chuck D said when presenting the award.
“Their lyrics were poetic, raw and deeply human.
“Their music videos defined an era.”
He called them “a band that changed the course of music” and that “never bent to the will of the mainstream”, a stance that seemingly hasn’t changed as guitarist Pat Smear smoked a cigarette on stage when accepting the award.
They weren’t the only past legends honoured.
Sombr, Raye, and Teddy Swims delivered a high-energy tribute to George Michael, introduced by Canadian country star Orville Peck.
Kacey Musgraves performed I Will Always Love You in tribute to the late Dolly Parton, before Swift dedicated her Video of the Year award to the late country singer.
“Her storytelling was so vivid and so rich,”
Swift said.
“Listening to her songs is like watching the best music video you’ve ever seen in your life,”
Big, bold performances
VMAs performances tend to be far more interesting than the awards themselves, as artists leverage the big audience and production budgets to deliver spectacular displays of their visions.
From Madonna and Charli’s bathroom stall choreography to Shaboozey’s wild Western saloon, this year’s VMAs pulled in a broad array of the current pop crop.
Blackpink star Lisa kept her Thai heritage front and centre in an epic performance of her new song Sawadika featuring some intense choreography.
British star Raye delivered a snippet of I Will Overcome before launching into a typically dazzling version of her hit Where Is My Husband!
Less impressive was Bruno Mars, who delivered a pre-recorded performance of Dance With Me, recorded on his current tour.
Check out some of the major winners from the MTV VMAs below:
Video of the Year
WINNER: Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia
Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me
Bruno Mars — I Just Might
GENER8ION — STORM starring Yung Lean
Madonna — Confessions II — The Film
Sabrina Carpenter — Tears
Artist of the Year
WINNER: Madonna
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Best New Artist
WINNER: Sienna Spiro
Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — Bring Your Love
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice — Chains & Whips
French Montana x Max B — Ever Since U Left Me
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson — Stateside
Shakira & Burna Boy — Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye — Hard Part
Best Pop
WINNER: Lisa — Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
Ariana Grande — hate that i made you love me
Charli xcx — SS26
Olivia Rodrigo — drop dead
Sabrina Carpenter — House Tour
Tate McRae — Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift — The Fate of Ophelia
Best Dance
WINNER: Madonna — Confessions II — The Film
Bebe Rexha & Faithless — New Religion
Harry Styles — Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii — RUNWAY
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson — Stateside
Slayyyter — DANCE…
Tate McRae — Nobody’s Girl