Taylor Swift will become the most awarded artist in MTV VMAs history: A guide to the 2026 show

Four-time Best Direction winner honored with first-ever award celebrating "a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice" NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift will once again break records. At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, she will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.

Currently, Swift is tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs, with 15.) The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognize artists “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. Here’s everything you need to know about the forthcoming award show.

How to watch The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, will also simulcast on MTV and be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The show will become available to stream globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV. CBS is home to a number of award shows, including the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. It has aired the Grammys since 1973, though that show will head to ABC in 2027.

Who is nominated for the 2026 MTV VMAs? Madonna leads this year’s ceremony, with 11 nominations that include video, artist and song of the year as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects. Swift follows Madonna with the second-most nominations, with nine.

Those pop powerhouses are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods to their name as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three. Rounding out the artist of the year category nominees are Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen, in addition to Madonna and Swift.