È stato l’anno di Madonna, la più premiata alla cerimonia degli MTV Video Music Awards 2026 che si è svolta questa notte a Los Angeles. A fronte delle 13 nomination, la popstar ha portato a casa sette premi tra cui alcuni “pesanti” come quello di artista dell’anno. Con quattro Moonmen, Confessions II – The Film è il video più premiato. Madonna ha anche aperto la cerimonia, come fece nel 1984, sulle note di Bring Your Love con Sabrina Carpenter e Danceteria Afterhours con Charlie XCX.
L’altra protagonista della serata è stata Taylor Swift, non solo perché è suo il video dell’anno (The Fate of Ophelia) e altri due Moonmen, ma anche perché ha presentato il videoclip di Patient Zero con Dakota Johnson e Colin Farrell e ha ricevuto il primo MTV VMA Artist Director Honors dedicato ai registi che hanno lasciato un segno nel campo della videomusica. È ora l’artista più premiata della storia ai Video Music Awards di MTV
Hanno ricevuto tre premi anche i BTS, due per Ariana Grande e Sabrina Carpenter. Un altro premio speciale, il Video Vanguard Award, è andato ai Nirvana. Si sono presentati (senza esibirsi) Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic e Pat Smear. Non molto da dire sul fronte rock: quest’anno la categoria è stata soppressa e come Best Alternative ha vinto Olivia Rodrigo.
Sul fronte delle performance, oltre a Madonna sono saliti sul palco Raye, Bruno Mars (un’esibizione pre-registrata), Shaboozey, Lisa, Sienna Spiro e Gener8ion con Yung Lean. Due i tributi: quello a Dolly Parton, di cui ha parlato anche Swift durante la premiazione, con Kacey Musgraves alle prese con I Will Always Love You e quello a George Michael con un medley di hit e sul palco Sombr, Raye, Teddy Swiss, Adam Lambert, Meek, Mnek, Saint Harison.
I vincitori (in neretto):
Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – Tears
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
BTS – Swim
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – Golden
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
RAYE – Where Is My Husband!
Best New Artist
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana x Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – Hard Part
Best Pop
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Charli xcx – SS26
Lisa – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B ft. Kehlani – Safe
Don Toliver – E85
Drake – Janice STFU
Megan Thee Stallion – Lover Girl
Travis Scott – Dumbo
Tyler, The Creator – Sugar on My Tongue
Best R&B
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – Yukon
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
Best Alternative
Geese – Taxes
Mgk & Fred Durst – Fix Ur Face
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
Olivia Rodrigo – The Cure
Sombr – Homewrecker
Tame Impala – Dracula
Twenty One Pilots – Drag Path
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga & Doechii – Runaway
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
Slayyyter – Dance…
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – Choka Choka
Bad Bunny – Nuevayol
Fuerza Regida – Tu Sancho
Karol G – Papasito
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta – La villa
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Best K-Pop
Blackpink – Jump
BTS – Swim
Cortis – Redred
Katseye – i
Le Sserafim (feat. J-Hope of BTS) – Spaghetti
Lisa – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Best Country
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
Lainey Wilson – Somewhere Over Laredo
Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tucker Wetmore – Brunette
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – Opalite
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – SS26
Lady Gaga & Doechii – Runaway
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
Sombr – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Lisa – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Editing
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Lisa – Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Choreography
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean
Harry Styles – Dance No More
Katseye – Pinky Up
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Jisoo X Zayn – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II – The Film
PinkPantheress – Stateside + Zara Larsson
Raye ft. Hans Zimmer – Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Categorie social:
Best Group
Blackpink
BTS
Cortis
Flo
Fuerza Regida
Geese
Katseye
Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
Gener8ion – Storm starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Best Album
Drake – Iceman – OVO/Republic Records
Madonna – Confessions II – Warner Records
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving – Island
Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend – Island
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl – Republic Records
Song of the Summer
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Risk It All – Atlantic Records
Charli xcx – Camera – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas – Columbia Records
Katseye – Hootie Frutti – HYBE x Geffen Records
Latto ft. Doja Cat – Okayyy – Steamcut / RCA Records
Morgan Wallen – Been By Now – Big Loud / Mercury Records
Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall in Love) – Island
Olivia Rodrigo – Stupid Song – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour – Island
Slayyyter – Brand New Chanel$ – Records/Columbia Records
Sombr – Homewrecker – SMB Music / Warner Records
Stella Lefty – Boston – Sandlot / Atlantic Outpost
Tame Impala & Jennie – Dracula – Columbia Records
Taylor Swift – I Knew It, I Knew You – Walt Disney Records / Republic Records
Special Awards
Video Vanguard Award: Nirvana
MTV VMA Artist Director Honors: Taylor Swift
