MTV’s adding a new award to the VMAs and giving this new honor to Taylor Swift. The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will introduce the MTV VMA Artist Director award, which, according to the network, will recognize “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling. The MTV VMA Artist Director celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.”
Swift’s won four Best Director awards out of seven total Best Director nominations. She’s stepped behind the camera to direct “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “All Too Well: The Short Film,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone),” “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Karma (feat. Ice Spice),” and “Lavender Haze.”
Additionally, Nirvana will be recognized with the 2026 VMAs Video Vanguard Award, 34 years after performing on the VMAs stage for the first time.
This year’s VMAs will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and air live on Sunday, September 27 at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+. Madonna will return to the VMAs stage for the opening number, marking her first live performance on the awards show in 23 years. GENER8ION, Gunna, LISA, RAYE, Shaboozey, SIENNA SPIRO, and Yung Lean are also confirmed to perform.
Madonna tops this year’s nominee list with 11, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven, Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson picked up five nominations, LISA scored four, and Shakira and Tate McRae received three nominations each.