It was a big night for BTS and BLACKPINK's LISA at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on 27 September, with the K-pop stars picking up some of the ceremony's major honours.
Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by Snoop Dogg, this year's MTV VMAs saw BTS take home Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for 'Swim', as well as Best Group.
Swim by BTS wins Best K-Pop at the 2026 #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/sGlrQXczcW
— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) September 28, 2026
The septet's 'Swim' beat out tracks from Ella Langley, HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, and RAYE for Song of the Year.
In the Best K-Pop category, BTS were nominated alongside BLACKPINK's 'JUMP', CORTIS' 'REDRED', KATSEYE's 'PINKY UP', LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS with 'SPAGHETTI', and LISA's 'Dream' featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.
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LISA, meanwhile, scored a win of her own with 'Dream', taking home Best Pop against nominees including Ariana Grande, Charli xcx, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Taylor Swift. LISA also performed during the ceremony.
Elsewhere, Madonna emerged as the night's biggest winner, collecting seven awards in total. The pop icon was named Artist of the Year and also took home Best Dance, Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter for 'Bring Your Love', Best Cinematography, Best Choreography, Best Long Form Video, and Best Album for Confessions II.
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Swift took home Video of the Year for 'The Fate of Ophelia' and Best Direction for 'Opalite'. She was also presented with the inaugural Artist Director Honors, after which she premiered the self-directed music video for her new track 'Patient Zero'.
Other winners included Sienna Spiro, who was voted Best New Artist; Cardi B and Kehlani, who won Best Hip-Hop for 'Safe'; Bruno Mars, who picked up Best R&B for 'I Just Might'; Olivia Rodrigo, who won Best Alternative for 'the cure'; Bad Bunny, who took Best Latin for 'NUEVAYoL'; and Ella Langley, who won Best Country for 'Choosin’ Texas'.
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Ariana Grande's 'Hate That I Made You Love Me' was named Song of Summer and also won Best Visual Effects, while PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson's 'Stateside' picked up Best Art Direction. Sabrina Carpenter's 'House Tour' won Best Editing.
Beyond the awards, the night featured performances from Madonna, LISA, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey, Gunna, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean. Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton, while RAYE, sombr, and Teddy Swims honoured George Michael.
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Nirvana were also honoured with the Video Vanguard Award.
2026 MTV VMAs — Full list of winners
Video of the Year
Taylor Swift — 'The Fate of Ophelia'
Artist of the Year
Madonna
Song of the Year
BTS — 'Swim'
Best New Artist
Sienna Spiro
Best Collaboration
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — 'Bring Your Love'
Best Pop
LISA — 'Dream' feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B feat. Kehlani — 'Safe'
Best R&B
Bruno Mars — 'I Just Might'
Best Alternative
Olivia Rodrigo — 'the cure'
Best Dance
Madonna — Confessions II – The Film
Best Latin
Bad Bunny — 'NUEVAYoL'
Best K-Pop
BTS — 'Swim'
Best Country
Ella Langley — 'Choosin’ Texas'
Best Direction
Taylor Swift — 'Opalite'
Best Art Direction
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson — 'Stateside'
Best Cinematography
Madonna — Confessions II – The Film
Best Editing
Sabrina Carpenter — 'House Tour'
Best Choreography
Madonna — Confessions II – The Film
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande — 'Hate That I Made You Love Me'
Best Group
BTS
Best Long Form Video
Madonna — Confessions II – The Film
Best Album
Madonna — Confessions II
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande — 'Hate That I Made You Love Me'
Artist Director Honors
Taylor Swift
Video Vanguard Award
Nirvana
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