NEW YORK, Sep 28 – Taylor Swift added another record to her already extensive collection of MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, becoming the most-awarded artist in the ceremony’s history while using one of the night’s biggest moments to pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Swift received the inaugural Artist Director Honors, an award created to recognize musicians whose work behind the camera has expanded the creative possibilities of music videos and pushed visual storytelling in new directions. The honor gave Swift her 31st VMA, moving her ahead of Beyoncé, with whom she had previously shared the record at 30 awards.
Swift reflected on her long involvement in music videos while accepting the new honor. She said she began working on music videos about two decades ago and has since participated in roughly 60 projects, including 18 that she wrote and directed herself.
The singer also credited her fans for making the experience meaningful throughout her career.
“You, the fans, make it so much fun,” Swift said during her acceptance speech.
Her night did not end there. Swift also collected the ceremony’s biggest competitive prize, video of the year, for “The Fate of Ophelia,” a song from her album “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Rather than keeping the spotlight entirely on herself, Swift dedicated the award to Parton, calling her the “ultimate showgirl.” Parton died in Nashville in August at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer, bringing an end to the career of one of country music’s most influential performers.
“I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time,” Swift said.
Swift’s presence remained central to the ceremony later in the evening as she premiered the music video for her new song “Patient Zero.” The visual was directed by Swift and features actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, with Johnson and Swift portraying mirror images of one another.
The song marks Swift’s first single since her July marriage to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden. The two-hour ceremony was broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Madonna, Snoop Dogg and a night packed with performances
Madonna opened the ceremony alongside Sabrina Carpenter, performing her 2026 single “Bring Your Love.” The veteran pop star and Carpenter later won the award for best collaboration for the song.
Madonna joked about returning to the VMAs after an extended absence, telling the audience that she had prepared nothing for the occasion. Her appearances throughout the night became a recurring part of the ceremony as she returned to the stage to collect additional awards.
She won artist of the year and later accepted the best dance award. Her acceptance speeches mixed humor with the confident stage presence that has defined much of her career.
The opening performance also featured Charli xcx, who joined Madonna after emerging from a club bathroom as the production shifted into their reworked version of “Danceteria.” The elaborate sequence included a large group of dancers and appearances by several well-known figures, including actor Debi Mazar, Sombr and Julia Garner.
The ceremony itself began about 20 minutes late after a closely contested NFL game affected the broadcast schedule.
Snoop Dogg, who had previously received 13 VMA nominations and won three times, took over as host soon afterward. He acknowledged Madonna’s status as a major figure in pop music before turning to one of his trademark jokes.
The first award of the night went to LISA, who won best pop for “Dream,” featuring Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi. Teyana Taylor presented the award as LISA became emotional while thanking MTV.
“All those late-night dreams brought me here today,” LISA said.
Later, she returned to the stage for a performance of “Sawadika,” a hip-hop-driven song whose title loosely translates to “Hello” in Thai.
Music remained at the center of the ceremony as performers moved through a wide range of styles. Raye delivered a medley that included “I Will Overcome” and “Where Is My Husband!” Bruno Mars brought a slower performance with “Dance With Me,” while Shaboozey performed “Cowgirl” before being joined by Gunna for “High Noon,” combining country and rap influences.
The ceremony also made room for newer artists. Sienna Spiro performed “Great Expectation” before being recognized as the best new artist. Her appearance gave the ceremony one of its opportunities to introduce a rising performer alongside some of the industry’s longest-established names.
Dolly Parton and George Michael remembered as Nirvana receives top honor
Parton’s death was remembered through a performance by Kacey Musgraves, who performed “I Will Always Love You.” The song has remained one of Parton’s most enduring compositions and became one of the defining moments of her songwriting career.
Parton’s influence stretched far beyond country music. Her distinctive voice, songwriting and flamboyant style helped turn her from a young performer from Tennessee into a global entertainment figure whose work crossed musical and cultural boundaries.
The tribute came during a ceremony that also looked back at another major figure in music history, George Michael. Orville Peck introduced a segment honoring Michael, who died on Christmas Day 10 years earlier at the age of 53.
The night’s final performance also leaned heavily into visual storytelling, fitting the central theme of the VMAs. “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and actor Brandon Sklenar introduced a partial reenactment of GENER8ION and Yung Lean’s “STORM” music video.
The performance opened with Lean smashing a VMA Moon Person trophy before Sienna Spiro delivered “Great Expectation,” adding another theatrical moment to an already performance-heavy show.
The ceremony then shifted from contemporary pop to grunge as Nirvana received the 2026 Video Vanguard Award, one of the VMAs’ most prominent honors.
Public Enemy rapper Chuck D introduced the award by highlighting Nirvana’s originality and willingness to challenge the conventions of its era. The honor was accepted by surviving band members Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died in 1994.
Novoselic spoke about the band’s unexpected reach and the continued connection listeners have with its music decades after Nirvana’s rise to international prominence.
He described Cobain as “one of one” and said the band had never expected its sound and visual identity to connect with such a large audience.
Novoselic also pointed to the enduring appeal of music that feels authentic and resistant to formulas. He said people continue to look for “something real, something uncompromising” and a message that it is acceptable to “come as you are.”
The honor gave the ceremony a notable connection to the history of music videos and alternative rock, while Swift’s record-setting night represented the continuing evolution of the medium.
By the end of the ceremony, Swift had established two major milestones of her own. Her 31st VMA made her the most-awarded artist in the ceremony’s history, while her victory for “The Fate of Ophelia” added another video of the year trophy to her collection.
Yet the defining personal moment of her night was directed toward someone else. By dedicating the top award to Parton, Swift connected her own achievements in contemporary pop with the legacy of an artist whose influence reached across generations and musical genres.