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2026 MTV Video Music Awards highlights

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2026-10-04 16:05 UTC → 2026-10-11 11:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, held on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, saw a significant resurgence in viewership, with ratings increasing by 52% compared to the previous year. This surge represents the ceremony’s highest audience levels since 2015. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the event featured a 1990s theme and aired across CBS, Paramount+, and MTV, though it faced some technical challenges due to overlapping American football broadcasts. Taylor Swift set a new historical record by becoming the most awarded artist in the ceremony’s history, reaching 33 wins and surpassing Beyoncé’s previous record of 30. Swift received the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director ~~Honors, recognizing her influence both in front of~~ Honors and ~~behind the camera, including her work directing 18 of her 60 music videos. Her wins included~~ won Video of the Year for ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ and Best Direction for ‘Opalite’. She also premiered her new music video, ‘Patient Zero’, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Madonna, making her first VMA appearance in 23 years, was a major draw for the broadcast. She performed ‘Danceteria’ alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, and also performed two songs from her latest album, ‘Confessions I’. She secured seven awards, including Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration for ‘Bring Your Love’ with Sabrina ~~Carpenter, and performed ‘Danceteria’ alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.~~ Carpenter. Other notable honors included a Video Vanguard Award for Nirvana and Best New Artist for Sienna Spiro. LISA made history as the first K-pop artist to win a Moon Person trophy in the Best Pop category for her song ‘Dream’. Additional winners included ~~LISA for Best Pop,~~ BTS for Song of the Year, Best K-Pop, and Best Group, and Bad Bunny for Best Latin. Performances by Sombr and Raye during a George Michael tribute received mixed reviews regarding their vocal execution.

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