Madonna wins 2026 MTV VMAs Artist of the Year, Taylor Swift accepts Artist Director Honor

Updated on: September 27, 2026 / 10:07 PM EDT / CBS News

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards wowed audiences on Sunday night as Madonna brought out high-energy dance numbers and Taylor Swift made MTV awards history.

Here are some of the highlights from the 2026 VMAs so far.

Madonna took the VMAs stage at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, her first time in over 20 years, announcing: "It's mother."

She opened the show with newly iconic imagery from her recent album, "Confessions II," including green lasers and hordes of cameras following her and Sabrina Carpenter around.

The two performed "Bring Your Love" together, which later won the Best Collaboration award, before Madonna transitioned into another dance-fueled club number, "Danceteria" with Charli XCX. The performance featured appearances from others who appeared in "Confessions II — The Film," including Debi Mazar and Julia Garner.

Madonna later took home Artist of the Year.

Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton on Sunday after the VMAs played a short video of the late country music superstar. Musgraves sang "I Will Always Love You," a song Parton released in 1974 that took on a second life when it was later recorded by…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/