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 JohnsonSwift 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 VMAsMTV VMAs 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE Artist of the Year: MadonnaBest Collaboration: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your LoveBest 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) <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/tvshowbiz/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
‘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 YEARAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightGener8ion (starring Yung Lean – StormMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – TearsTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia – WINNER Taylor Swift earned top honor Video of the Year to break an epic record ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonna – WINNERMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift SONG OF THE YEARBTS – Swim – WINNERElla Langley – Choosin’ TexasHuntr/x – GoldenMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your LoveOlivia Dean – Man I NeedRaye – Where Is My Husband BEST NEW ARTISTBella KayCortisMagnus FerrellMalcolm ToddMyles SmithSienna Spiro – WINNERStella Lefty British singer Sienna Spiro took home the coveted Best New Artist gongBEST COLLABORATIONClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & WhipsFrench Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left MeMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love – WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiTeyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard PartBEST POPAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeCharli XCX – SS26Lisa – Dream – WINNEROlivia Rodrigo – Drop DeadSabrina Carpenter – House TourTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia BEST HIP-HOPCardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe – WINNERDon Toliver – E85Drake – Janice STFUMegan Thee Stallion – Lover GirlTravis Scott – DumboTyler, The Creator – Sugar on My Tongue BEST R&BBruno Mars – I Just Might – WINNERChris Brown – It Depends/ObviousDave & Tems – RaindanceJustin Bieber – YukonKehlani – FoldedMariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime BEST ALTERNATIVEGeese – TaxesMGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur FaceNoah Kahan – The Great DivideOlivia Rodrigo – The Cure – WINNERSombr – HomewreckerTame Impala – DraculaTwenty One Pilots – Drag Path BEST DANCEBebe Rexha and Faithless – New ReligionHarry Styles – ApertureLady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) – WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSlayyyter – Dance…Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl BEST LATINAnitta and Shakira – Choka ChokaBad Bunny – NUEVAYoL – WINNERFuerza Regida – Tu SanchoKarol G – PapasitoRosalía – La PerlaRyan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La VillaShakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai BEST K-POPBlackpink – JumpBTS – Swim – WINNERCortis – RedredKatseye – Pinky UpLe Sserafim – SpaghettiLisa – Dream BEST COUNTRYElla Langley – Choosin’ Texas – WINNERKacey Musgraves – Dry SpellLainey Wilson – Somewhere over LaredoLuke Combs – Back in the SaddleShaboozey – CowgirlStella Lefty – BostonTucker Wetmore – Brunette BEST DIRECTIONAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love meBruno Mars – I Just MightGener8ion – StormMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – Opalite – WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeA$AP Rocky – Punk RockyLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) – WINNERShaboozey – CowgirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Madonna dominated as she earned the most wins with seven BEST EDITINGAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour – WINNERTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Sabrina Carpenter took home Best Editing for House Tour as she accepted Best Collaboration with Madonna BEST CHOREOGRAPHYGener8ion – StormHarry Styles – Dance No MoreKatseye – Pinky UpMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)n – WINNERTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia BEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me – WINNERJisoo and Zayn – Eyes ClosedMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) – WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideRaye – Click Clack SymphonyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia BEST ART DIRECTIONCharli XCX – SS26Lady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside – WINNERSombr – My Body Isn’t ReadyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia PinkPantheress earned Best Art Direction alongside Zara Larsson for Stateside