Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMA history

Taylor Swift made history at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, held on Sunday evening, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. She won the ceremony's top prize, Video of the Year, for her showgirl-inspired video “The Fate of Ophelia,” which she dedicated to the late country music legend Dolly Parton. Combined with several other honors, including the newly introduced Artist Director Honors, the win made Swift the most-awarded artist in VMA history, surpassing Beyoncé, who had previously held the record.

Reports differ slightly on the exact number of trophies Swift has accumulated over her career at the VMAs. France24 puts the figure at 31 awards, while Germany's Spiegel cites 33. The discrepancy likely stems from differing methods of counting, such as whether certain special honors or shared awards are included. What is consistent across reporting, however, is that this year's haul pushed Swift to the top of the VMA record list. According to France24, Swift stated she had written and directed 18 music videos over the course of her career, a detail highlighted by the introduction of the new Artist Director Honors category.

Alongside Swift, pop icon Madonna was also among the night's biggest winners. According to Germany's ZDF and Spain's El País, Madonna took home either seven or three awards, respectively — another point on which sources vary, possibly due to differences in which categories or timeframes were counted. Singer Lisa was also recognized as one of the evening's major winners, according to the BBC.

The ceremony, hosted by Snoop Dogg, featured an extensive lineup of live performances in addition to the awards presentations. Artists including Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Kacey Musgraves and Sienna Spiro took the stage throughout the night. The evening was also marked by nostalgic tributes, with organizers honoring the legacies of Dolly Parton, grunge band Nirvana, and British pop icon George Michael. El País described the gala as steeped in nostalgia for these musical figures, even as contemporary stars such as Swift and Madonna dominated the spotlight.

Another major moment of the night was the premiere of Swift's self-directed music video for her new single “Patient Zero,” featuring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. The song is part of her current musical era, referred to as “TLOAS.” Prior to its release, Swift had expressed hesitation about putting the video out, telling fans on Instagram Stories that she had second thoughts after seeing how cinematic it looked on set, according to Geo News.

Following its release, however, the video sparked debate online. India Today reported that even devoted fans, known as “Swifties,” expressed skepticism about certain visual elements, with some observers suggesting parts of the video appeared to be AI-generated or AI-enhanced. Whether artificial intelligence tools were actually used in the video's production, and to what extent, has not been definitively confirmed publicly. The discussion reflects a broader ongoing debate about the role of AI in visual pop culture, though no verified details about this specific video's production process are currently available.

The ceremony aired live on CBS and MTV in the United States, reaching a wide audience. According to the BBC and other outlets, anticipation had already been building before the show, as stars including Swift and Charli XCX drew attention on the red carpet ahead of the event.

Multiple international outlets framed the evening as further evidence of Taylor Swift's continued dominance in contemporary popular culture. Between her record-setting VMA haul, her tribute to Dolly Parton, and the swirling discussion around her new, potentially AI-assisted music video, the night's coverage combined recognition of her career achievements with emerging questions about the future of visual music production.