New MTV award places Taylor Swift ahead of Beyoncé

NEW YORK (AP):

At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artiste Director Honours, becoming the most awarded artiste in VMA history.

Currently, Swift is tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognise artistes “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling”, will bring her total to 31.

The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, September 27, and will be hosted by Snoop Dogg.

Madonna leads this year’s ceremony, with 11 nominations that include Video, Artiste and Song of the Year as well as Best Collaboration, Dance, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, editing, Choreography and Visual Effects.

Swift follows Madonna with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven nods each, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson have five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.

Rounding out the Artiste of the Year category nominees are Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen, in addition to Madonna and Swift.

This year’s Video Music Awards features 26 first-time nominees, which include GENER8ION and Yung Lean (for their Storm collaboration) and the K-pop boy band CORTIS and viral Boston singer Stella Lefty with two each. Other notable first-time nominees include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.

The Best Dance category has returned for the first time in seven years. Nominees include McRae’s Nobody’s Girl; Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ New Religion; Harry Styles’ Aperture; Lady Gaga and Doechii’s Runway; Madonna’s Confessions II — The Film; PinkPantheress’ Stateside with Larsson and Slayyyter’s Dance.

Nirvana will receive the 2026 Video Vanguard Award. Previous recipients include Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Katy Perry and many more.

Madonna will open the show and this will mark her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years. Other performers include GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna as well as Lisa, Raye and Sienna Spiro.

Fan voting ends September 25. However, voting in the Best New Artiste category will remain active during the show.