Taylor Swift added another handful of Moon People to her record-setting collection at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
After making her positively "Bejeweled" appearance in Tamara Ralph
Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the pop superstar won three trophies. She also premiered her new "Patient Zero" music video after accepting the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors in celebration of what she estimated were "roughly 60 music videos" she's made in 20 years.Swift shouted out "the ultimate showgirl," Dolly Parton as she accepted the night's top prize, video of the year, noting that the accomplishment "wouldn't have been possible without her."
Swift, who earlier this year became the youngest female Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee,
is now the most decorated artist in the show's history, edging out Beyoncé.
Swift went into the night tied with the "Break My Soul" singer at 30 wins, but with her new career total of 33, Swift now holds the title.
"The Fate of Ophelia" songstress was nominated for nine awards this year, second to Madonna, who led the field with 11.
What is the Artist Director Honors award?
The Artist Director Honor was introduced this year to celebrate "a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice."
Bruce Gillmer, the executive producer of the award show, explained to The Associated Press that the Artist Director Honor "really is an extension" of the Video Vanguard Award, which was presented to Nirvana (and accepted by Dave Drohl) this year.
The honor is "in many ways, even larger in stature because it was an idea ... quite frankly, the kernel of the idea came from external. I’ll leave it at that," he added.
All of Taylor Swift's VMA wins
Taylor Swift finished the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with 33 career wins. Here is every Moon Person she has won, from most recent to oldest:
- 2026: Artist Director Honors
- 2026: Video of the year for "The Fate of Ophelia"
- 2026: Best direction for “Opalite.”
- 2024: Song of the summer for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
- 2024: Best editing for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
- 2024: Best direction for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
- 2024: Best collaboration for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
- 2024: Video of the year for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
- 2024: Best pop
- 2024: Artist of the year
- 2023: Album of the year for "Midnights"
- 2023: Show of the summer
- 2023: Artist of the year
- 2023: Best visual effects for "Anti-Hero"
- 2023: Best cinematography for "Anti-Hero"
- 2023: Best direction for "Anti-Hero"
- 2023: Best pop for "Anti-Hero"
- 2023: Song of the year for "Anti-Hero"
- 2023: Video of the year for "Anti-Hero"
- 2022: Video of the year for "All Too Well: The Short Film"
- 2022: Best long form video for "All Too Well: The Short Film"
- 2022: Best direction for "All Too Well: The Short Film"
- 2020: Best direction for "The Man"
- 2019: Best visual effects for "ME!" featuring Brendon Urie
- 2019: Video for good for "You Need to Calm Down"
- 2019: Video of the year for "You Need to Calm Down"
- 2017: Best collaboration for "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Zayn
- 2015: Best collaboration for "Bad Blood" featuring Kendrick Lamar
- 2015: Video of the year for "Bad Blood" featuring Kendrick Lamar
- 2015: Best pop video for "Blank Space"
- 2015: Best female video for "Blank Space"
- 2013: Best female video for "I Knew You Were Trouble"
- 2009: Best female video for "You Belong With Me"
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift sets all-time VMAs record. What awards did she win in 2026?
