American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has set a new record at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), breaking her tie with Beyoncé for the most Moonman statuettes. With 30 awards, Swift was previously tied with Beyoncé, but she took the lead with the inaugural Artist Director Honours. This award recognizes Swift's work behind the camera on visual storytelling. The ceremony took place on September 27, 2026, and was hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg.
Swift premiered the video for her new single "Patient Zero" at the VMAs, starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. The song warns a woman about her partner, with whom Swift had a toxic relationship. The lyrics of the song include, "If he's killing you / I got you / I was patient zero." The video premiere was one of the highlights of the show. Swift also won Video of the Year, which she dedicated to country legend Dolly Parton.
During her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, Swift praised Dolly Parton's music and said, "Every single song she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid." She added, "She handled this fame with such grace and love and gratitude." Swift's tribute to Parton was well-received by the audience. Parton is a renowned country music singer-songwriter and has been an inspiration to many artists, including Swift.
However, Swift did not win in some of the show's biggest categories, including Artist of the Year, which went to Madonna. The queen of pop reminisced about her early days at the VMAs, where she briefly mooned the audience in a performance fumble. Madonna's manager had scolded her backstage, saying her career was over, but she proved him wrong. Madonna has been a prominent figure in the music industry for decades.
Madonna also opened the show with her first performance at the VMAs since her iconic kiss with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003. She sang "Bring Your Love" alongside Sabrina Carpenter and medleyed with Charli XCX for "Danceteria." The performance was well-received by the audience. Madonna's return to the VMAs was highly anticipated, and she did not disappoint.
Grunge band Nirvana received the Video Vanguard award, which is the highest honor at the VMAs. They are the first group to receive this award in more than 20 years. Frontman Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, after the band's studio albums "Nevermind" and "In Utero" achieved huge success. Nirvana's music continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
Other winners at the VMAs included Thai artist LISA, who won the award for best pop for "Dream," featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. The majority of awards were given out offstage during the ceremony. Kacey Musgraves headlined a tribute to Dolly Parton, while Teddy Swims, Sombr, and Raye offered a soulful tribute to George Michael, 40 years after the release of his landmark album "Faith."
Key points
- Taylor Swift breaks record with most Moonman statuettes at MTV VMAs
- Swift premieres video for new single "Patient Zero" at VMAs
- Madonna wins Artist of the Year at VMAs
