Madonna took home a number of awards at the 2026 MTV VMAs, including the biggest honor of the night, Artist of the Year.She also won Best Collaboration and Best Dance awards, bringing her total 2026 VMAs awards to seven.During the show, which was hosted by Snoop Dogg at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Kacey Musgraves channeled Dolly Parton in a tribute to the late country icon.She sang Parton's song, "I Will Always Love You" for her tribute, one month after Dolly's death.Taylor Swift won the Video of the Year for her music video "The Fate of Ophelia." Swift wrote and directed the music video for her song.Swift dedicated her win to Parton.She also received the first ever Artist Director Honors, presented by her friend Dakota Johnson.
Swift also received the award for Best Direction for "Opalite."Madonna won a total of seven MTV VMAs; pictured at the awards show on Sunday with Taylor Swift. (Christopher Polk/CBS via Getty Images)Madonna opened the show with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX — 23 years after her last performance for the ceremony.She performed "Bring Your Love" with Sabrina Carpenter, and "Danceteria" with Charli XCX.There were also guest appearances by Julia Garner, Sombr, Debi Mazur and Seth Rogen in her show-opener performance.Fans took to X to share their reaction to Madonna’s performance."Train wreck," one fan wrote, adding that she "looked like she was hanging on for dear life."Another called her performance "cringeworthy," and someone else wrote on X: "Much of her performance was just embarrassing… lip-sync & awkward moves....still happy for her wins btw."Others gushed about her performance.One fan wrote: "I’m proud of Madonna.
That was a great performance & great showcase of the creative vision of the album.THEE QUEEN."Others said: "Can’t get enough," "Insane performance," "killed it tonight," "What a great performance thank u Mother Madonna u continue to amaze me."Madonna beat Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter...