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Taylor Swift shared a sweet moment with Queen of Pop Madonna as the pair united for a photo at the MTV VMAs 2026 on Sunday.
The pop icon, 36, who alongside Madonna, 68, was among the most nominated artists at the ceremony, looked excited as she ran to the Like a Prayer hitmaker and held out her hand in a heartwarming video.
Swift hugged Madonna with the pair seen sharing a warm chat, before happily posing for a photograph.
Sunday night saw Swift become the most awarded artist in VMAs history. It marked her 31st Moon Man trophy, breaking her tie with Beyonce as the most decorated artist in the history of the VMAs.
The star later took her awards haul to 33 by winning the coveted Video of the Year award for The Fate of Ophelia, and Best Direction for Opalite.
Earlier in the night Madonna took to the stage to perform two of her most recent hits, Bring Your Love and Danceteria Afterhours Remix, but fans slammed the performance for being 'unfocused.'
The hitmaker later won her first VMA in 27 years, taking home Best Collaboration for Bring Your Love. She then won Artist of the Year and dance video of the year for Confessions II, eventually taking home seven awards in total.
Taylor Swift shared a sweet moment with Queen of Pop Madonna as the pair united for a photo at the MTV VMAs 2026
Sunday night saw Swift become the most awarded artist in VMAs history - with the star accepting the inaugural Artist Director Honors, marking her 30th win - pictured with Dakota Johnson
Swift was presented with her award by Patient Zero collaborator Dakota Johnson, before the world exclusive premiere of the new music video.
'Taylor Swift is a storyteller,' Johnson said. 'She is an architect of emotional landscapes filled with the most intimate and intricate detail. She captures universal feelings with a style and endowment that is entirely and singularly her own.
'She does it in her writing, her performing, and her work behind the camera as a director.
'Taylor has spent the majority of her life on set, telling tales and building worlds. She isn't just one of the most decorated artists in the history of the VMAs. She is the single most recognized video director in this show's history.'
The VMAs then showed a series of clips of Swift's history as a music video director, including her video for The Fate of Ophelia.
Swift came onstage to accept the award, which made her the most-honored artist at the VMAs.
'I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago, and since then I've gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos, roughly 60. Eighteen of those I wrote and directed, and I really love writing and directing music videos.
Swift hugged Madonna with the pair seen sharing a warm chat, before happily posing for a photograph
Madonna and Taylor looked happier than ever as they chatted
The pair shared a sweet hug in a cute video
The pop icon, 36, who alongside Madonna, 68, is among the most nominated artists at the ceremony, looked excited as she ran to the Like a Prayer hitmaker and held out her hand in a viral video
Sunday night saw Swift become the most awarded artist in VMAs history. It marked her 31st Moon Man trophy, breaking her tie with Beyonce as the most decorated artist in the history of the VMAs
MTV VMAs 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE
Artist of the Year: Madonna
Best Collaboration: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love
Best Dance: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Best Cinematography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Best Choreography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Best Visual Effects: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Best Long Form Video: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
'I got to tell you though, the main reason why I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much fun.
'You make it so rewarding because you actually care about what we're making, so you know, I want to say thank you to everyone who ever worked on a music video that I got to be a part of.'
Swift said, accepting Video of the Year: 'I want to dedicate this award to one person, and without whom this wouldn't be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl Dolly Parton.'
Swift was referencing her hit album The Life of a Showgirl as a new deluxe edition was released on Friday. Video of the Year was her lone nomination as an artist at the event but she also won Best Direction for her Opalite music video.
The A-lister continued her kind words about Dolly as she said: 'Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich.
'Listening to her songs, it's like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she has written.'
Parton passed away at 80-years-old on August 25 after a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer.
Swift continued her acceptance speech by saying: 'And man, she handled this thing with such grace, and joy, and love, and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this.
'And everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love, and gratitude, and appreciation for her fans. I'm lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them.'
The Style hitmaker concluded her speech with a strong statement as she said: 'I think we were all very very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time.'
MTV Video Music Awards 2026 WINNERS
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars - I Just Might
Gener8ion (starring Yung Lean - Storm
Madonna - Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter - Tears
Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia - WINNER
Taylor Swift earned top honor Video of the Year to break an epic record
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna - WINNER
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
BTS - Swim - WINNER
Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas
Huntr/x - Golden
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
Raye - Where Is My Husband
BEST NEW ARTIST
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro - WINNER
Stella Lefty
British singer took home the coveted Best New Artist gong
BEST COLLABORATION
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love - WINNER
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Shakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard Part
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Charli XCX – SS26
Lisa – Dream - WINNER
Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe - WINNER
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 - WINNER
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – Yukon
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – Taxes
MGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur Face
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
Olivia Rodrigo – The Cure - WINNER
Sombr – Homewrecker
Tame Impala – Dracula
Twenty One Pilots – Drag Path
BEST DANCE
Bebe Rexha and Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga and Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNER
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Slayyyter – Dance...
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
BEST LATIN
Anitta and Shakira – Choka Choka
Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL - WINNER
Fuerza Regida – Tu Sancho
Karol G – Papasito
Rosalía – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La Villa
Shakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai
BEST K-POP
Blackpink – Jump
BTS – Swim - WINNER
Cortis – Redred
Katseye – Pinky Up
Le Sserafim – Spaghetti
Lisa – Dream
BEST COUNTRY
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas - WINNER
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
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – Opalite - WINNER
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky
Lisa – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNER
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Madonna dominated as she earned the most wins with seven
BEST EDITING
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Lisa – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour - WINNER
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Sabrina took home Best Editing for House Tour as she accepted Best Collaboration with Madonna
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Gener8ion – Storm
Harry Styles – Dance No More
Katseye – Pinky Up
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)n - WINNER
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me - WINNER
Jisoo and Zayn – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNER
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Raye – Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli XCX – SS26
Lady Gaga and Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside - WINNER
Sombr – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
PinkPantheress earned Best Art Direction alongside Zara Larsson for Stateside
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