Taylor Swift to Receive Inaugural Artist Director Honors at 2026 VMAs
Taylor Swift will receive the first Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV VMAs, becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history with 31 wins.
Taylor Swift is set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, a new accolade that will make her the most-awarded artist in the show's history.
Swift currently shares the record for most VMA wins with Beyoncé, with 30 each. Eminem holds the most VMAs among male artists, with 15. The new award, which the VMAs say recognises artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced visual storytelling, will lift Swift's total to 31.
Madonna leads this year's nominations with 11, including video, artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects. Swift follows with nine nominations.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have seven nods, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson have five apiece. Blackpink's LISA has four, and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied with three.
The two-hour ceremony will air live on CBS on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, it will also simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show will be available globally on Paramount+ and MTV the following day.