Taylor Swift becomes most awarded MTV VMAs artiste, dedicates her latest win to Dolly Parton

LOS ANGELES – Taylor Swift won the most coveted honour at MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Sept 27 with video of the year for her showgirl-inspired The Fate Of Ophelia, which she dedicated to the late country music legend Dolly Parton.

Swift took home three awards at the 2026 VMAs, bringing her career total to an unmatched 33. She had previously been tied with American singer-songwriter Beyonce at 30 awards apiece.

The Fate Of Ophelia was the first single off the American pop star’s 2025 The Life Of A Showgirl album. As she accepted the VMA honour, she praised Parton as “the ultimate showgirl” who told stories that were “so vivid and so rich”.

“I think that we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time,” Swift said on stage in downtown Los Angeles.

Parton, the American award-winning country singer, songwriter and businesswoman, died in August at the age of 80.

Earlier in the ceremony, Swift was awarded the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.

The 36-year-old has written and directed 18 of her roughly 60 music videos during her 20-year career. The most recent, for her new single Patient Zero, debuted during the ceremony. It starred American actress Dakota Johnson and Irish actor Colin Farrell as a couple in an unhealthy relationship.

“The main reason I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much, so much fun,” Swift said. “You actually care about what we’re making.”

She also won best direction for her Opalite video.

The VMAs, hosted by American rapper Snoop Dogg, were broadcast live on CBS and MTV and streamed on Paramount+. Winners in the top categories were selected by fan votes.

High-energy performances

American pop queen Madonna led the 2026 field of winners with seven awards, including artist of the year and best dance video for Confessions II – The Film.

She recalled her 1984 performance of Like A Virgin at the first VMAs, which she said was considered too provocative for cable television at the time.

“I think most of you were probably not yet born,” the 68-year-old told the crowd, before explaining that she had to quickly recover during that performance from a shoe mishap.

“I dove onto the stage to try and make myself look cute and sexy,” she said. “My butt cheek was hanging out. In those days, butt cheeks were not hanging out. My manager told me my career was over.”

Speaking about the Confessions II album, Madonna said she spent the past 18 months “finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music I wanted to make”.

“To me, that really is the definition of being an artiste,” she said.

Madonna kicked off the show with a high-energy performance of two of her recent collaborations. American actress Sabrina Carpenter joined her for Bring Your Love – a song later named best collaboration – and British singer Charli XCX took the stage for Danceteria Afterhours, surrounded by dancers on a set that looked like a club restroom.

Madonna said she enjoyed working with Carpenter, 27, because their work styles complemented one another. “When I show up late, she shows up early,” Madonna said, adding that the pair share the old-school habit of writing lyrics on pieces of paper.

“It’s been wonderful working with you, and I love this song,” she said of Carpenter.

In a quiet moment, American singer Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Parton by singing the enduring song I Will Always Love You (1974), while Teddy Swims, Sombr and Raye offered a soulful tribute to British crooner George Michael, 40 years after the release of his landmark debut solo album Faith (1987).

Wins for Lisa and BTS

Thai star Lisa, a member of K-pop girl group Blackpink, won the VMA for best pop video for her solo effort Dream, a track from her solo LP Alter Ego that features Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi.

“Sawatdee kha, everyone. Thank you, MTV for this amazing award,” said Lisa, greeting the audience in Thai and thanking her collaborators on the track. “All those late-night dreams brought me here today, so thank you for the inspiration.”

Sporting a black outfit with large white fringe sleeves, she spoke through tears as she thanked her fans, known as Lillies.

“I wouldn’t be here without you guys,” she said. “Thank you so much for your love and support.”

Lisa also gave the first live performance of Sawadika shortly after, the pre-release track from her upcoming EP Press Play, slated for release on Oct 23.

K-pop boy band BTS swept all three categories in which they were nominated, taking home song of the year for Swim, best K-pop and best group despite not attending the ceremony. The win made them the first K-pop group to take home song of the year at the VMAs, five years after it became the first Korean act nominated in the category with Dynamite in 2021.

BTS thanked fans in a statement released through BigHit Music, calling their 2026 comeback album Arirang one that marked “a new beginning” for the group. “We sincerely thank Army (BTS’ fandom) for always sending us unwavering love and support,” the members said. “We believe we were able to receive such a major award thanks to everyone who has loved our music.”

The septet also won best group, extending its own record in the category. BTS previously won the award for four consecutive years from 2019 through 2022, before the members began suspending group activities to complete their mandatory military service.

American grunge band Nirvana received the Video Vanguard award. They are the first group to receive the top honour in more than 20 years. Frontman Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994, after studio albums Nevermind (1991) and In Utero (1993) skyrocketed to success.

“Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity,” bass player Krist Novoselic said after a video retrospective of the band’s videos. “Something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it’s just okay to come as you are.”

British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, who combines pop, jazz and soul music, was named best new artist. REUTERS