Madonna proved she’s still the Queen of Pop at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, taking home seven trophies including the night’s top honor, Artist of the Year.
The legendary performer beat out Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, and Morgan Wallen for the coveted award. Her haul also included Best Collaboration and Best Dance, bringing her total for the evening to seven Moon Person statuettes.
A Historic Opening Performance
Madonna opened the show with a medley featuring Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX — marking her first VMAs performance in 23 years. She performed “Bring Your Love” with Carpenter and “Danceteria” with Charli XCX, with guest appearances by Julia Garner, Sombr, Debi Mazur, and Seth Rogen.
The performance divided viewers online. One fan called it a “train wreck,” saying she “looked like she was hanging on for dear life,” while another labeled it “cringeworthy.” A critic on X wrote: “Much of her performance was just embarrassing… lip-sync & awkward moves….still happy for her wins btw.”
Others praised the performance. “I’m proud of Madonna. That was a great performance & great showcase of the creative vision of the album. THEE QUEEN,” one supporter wrote. Others added: “Can’t get enough,” “Insane performance,” and “killed it tonight.”
Reflecting on Four Decades of VMAs
During her Artist of the Year acceptance speech, Madonna began by thanking her fingers “because I can always count on them.”
She noted that much of the audience wasn’t born when she performed at the first-ever MTV VMAs in 1984, where she sang “Like A Virgin.” She recalled her shoe falling off during that performance and trying to “look cute and sexy” by diving to grab it — accidentally flashing her backside in the process.
“In those days, butt cheeks were not hanging out. I just want to remind you,” she said. “And I went backstage feeling really proud of myself, and my manager told me that my career was over.”
The singer said she spent the last year and a half focused on “finding myself, believing in myself, and really making the music that I wanted to make.”
“That really is the definition of being an artist,” she added. “And my hope for all of you here tonight is that you spend the next year, or the next 10 years, or put the rest of your life doing the same, finding yourself and believing in yourself.”
More Wins for Madonna
Madonna also won Best Dance for “Confessions II – The Film.” Accepting the award alongside presenters Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, she reflected on her roots.
“I came to New York to be a dancer and dance is where everything happened for me in my life,” she said. “I came to life on the dance floor, I fell in love with people on the dance floor, and I lost many people I loved on the dance floor. [And] dance brings everybody together. We’re all equal on the dance floor.”
She also took home the Moon Person for Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter for “Bring Your Love.”
Taylor Swift’s Big Night
Taylor Swift won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” which she wrote and directed. She dedicated her win to Dolly Parton.
Swift also received the first-ever Artist Director Honors, presented by her friend Dakota Johnson, and won Best Direction for “Opalite.” She additionally debuted her music video for “Patient Zero,” starring Johnson and Colin Farrell.
Tributes and Other Highlights
Hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony featured a moving tribute to the late Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 at age 80.
Kacey Musgraves channeled Parton in a pre-taped tribute, appearing on stage in a hot pink gown with voluminous hair to sing “I Will Always Love You” after Parton appeared on screen to begin the song.
The 2026 VMAs also honored Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award.
Other performers included Lisa, Sienna Spiro, Bruno Mars, Sombr, and Shaboozey.