2026 VMAssssss: the Madonna / Taylor show

I feel bad but every Madonna song just sounds like Vogue part 2 3 4. But her bringing out Sabrina charlixcx made sense with sombr strolling by too, just gave the same vibe.

Lisa with best pop didn’t know the song but she seemed super grateful. Knew others and thought Taylor or Sabrina would win but think this is fan votes. 

Surprised Miley Cyrus didn’t do the tribute to dolly, Kasey muscraves also didn’t do the original I will always love you rifs I feel like maybe? But also I don’t know, I don’t have a good ear.

@varietymagazine #KaceyMusgraves pays tribute to #DollyParton at the #VMas ♬ original sound - Variety

 

Kinda forgot about raye but her song is a banger, as is Bruno’s song just always sounds like every other song I know of his, wedding singer vibes for sure. 

Saboozey preforms kinda feels like they’re trying to make him a reverse post Malone, starting off in country then slowly transition to a rapper maybe? Felt less country for sure

Madonna and Sabrina won best collab and can’t tell if they hate each or not, talking about how it took forever for her team to respond to Madonna , kinda put her on blast.

@cbs Best Collaboration goes to such an iconic duo, @madonna and @Sabrina Carpenter at the 2026 #VMAs ♬ original sound - CBS

 

Also felt like nirvana should have gotten a bigger segment being a vanguard winner.

Madonna wins artist of the year so crazy… she’s also so tiny, and felt bad they panned to pink panthress after she talked bad about her manager, just trying to set her up.

Sienna spiro is a good singer, don’t know much about her. But I feel like all the British singers have the same vibe, low and slow cabaret style of singing à la Amy winehouse. Really good singer tho, 

Lalisa killed it and was perfect feel like she should go on tour maybeeee

@jessicagolich LISA performs “SaWaDiKa” at 2026 VMAS 🤩🤩🤩 #lisavmas #vmas2026 #vmas26 ♬ original sound - JessicaGolich

Wonder if it’s true also that the award show made up this director producer award specifically for Taylor swift. 

Kinda wild how this is after her last extension of her album or something just came out, and was received not great. 

The new music video was cute the song was nice. Well acted. 

Best dance goes to Madonna, feels fitting with her winning everything and presented by Charli and Troye. Kinda love Madonna just saying whatever is on her mind lol. Thought slayyyter would win with the presenters honestly lol. 

George Michael tribute was good, didn’t know he sang careless whisperer, got to have faith, freedom too, didn’t know. 

Best new artist is sienna spiro, another one of those low and slow singers, great voice and looked amazing up there. She preformed so makes sense she won!

Don’t really know generation and young lean. Feels like a very British award show this year. A lot of music I don’t know but refreshing almost, love some new music, feel like music has been super stagnant this year, why do I kinda love this performance? Kinda chaotic in the best way. Everything else like I’ve said has been low and slow, need some energyyyy. Like lalisa.

@lexniko GENER8ION and Yung Lean perform their viral choreography for Storm II at the 2026 VMAs. @CBS @MTV #conversationstarters #vmas #celebritytiktok #fyp ♬ original sound - Conversation Starters

 

pop and otherwise, live music especially , even radio, pop mainly not alternative or rock, feel like they’re always showing new artists and new sound. 

Wonder who paid mtv more Madonna for her wins or Taylor swift for her made up director award this year?

Taylor swift wins video of the year with fate of Ophelia, and dedicates her award to Dolly Parton.. great brownie points!

 *** They did away with the rock category?

also so side note, didn't really know a lot of the songs and nominees for this year, the music kinda felt like everything was from last year, ill do my guesses but probably won't be super up to date. 


Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”- Island
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records *******

***literally all the videos were just okay, Taylor had a great video but its so last year, same as Sabrina, Madonna actually has a great video just never have heard of it before? 

gener8ion too its okay, bruno I feel like has the same video for all his songs, and Ariana has a great great song just the video is so creepy and weird

Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records

Madonna – Warner Records *******
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud/Mercury Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

**just because like he's the only one maybe that's stadium touring, oh I guess Morgan wallen did too this year so one of the too?

Song of the Year
BTS – “Swim” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records

HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden” – Republic Records/Visva Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records
Olivia Dean – “Man I Need” – Island
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – Human Re Sources

***maybe man I need? its been on th radio forever and I think she might be touring too? her and chosen Texas have been a lot of places thus year but I don't know country that well

after: honestly thought it would be chosen Texas since that's all I hear about how its the biggest song ever, but im not super familiar with country 

Best New Artist
Bella Kay – Atlantic Records
CORTIS – BIGHIT MUSIC

Magnus Ferrell -Visva Records/Republic Records
Malcolm Todd – Columbia Records
Myles Smith – RCA Records
Sienna Spiro – Capitol Records*****
Stella Lefty – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost

***maybe CORTIS in term of growth as a new artists, feels like theyre being propped up to be the next BTS and they sound fun, 

Myles smith is huge but feels so established and less new now if that makes sense. I do not know the other people besides Magnus being will ferells son 

Best Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips” – Roc Nation Distribution
French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me” – Coke Boys Records
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love” – Warner Records *******
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part” – Def Jam Recordings

***feel like maybe stateside for huge collab but Zaras songs this year just makes me think midnight sun in my mind is way way bigger for her and is such a song of the summer. 

so Shakira since it was the Fifa anthem and was a huge song too, everything Shakira does is perfect

Genre-Specific Categories

Best Pop
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi – Lloud Co./RCA Records *******
Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead” – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – Island
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B feat. Kehlani – “Safe” – Atlantic Records
Don Toliver – “E85” – Cactus Jack/ Atlantic Records
Drake – “Janice STFU” – OVO/Republic Records
Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott – “DUMBO” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records

Tyler, The Creator- “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” – Columbia Records\

**unfamilar with all of these songs so Tyler since that's the only one I recognize 

Best R&B
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious” – RCA Records
Dave & Tems – “Raindance” – Neighbourhood Recordings/Capitol Records
Justin Bieber – “YUKON” – Def Jam Recordings
Kehlani – “Folded” – Atlantic Records
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime” – Epic Records

**or bieber cuz this were the only two I recognize but also bruno but it feels so pop and less what I imagine r&b is but idk I could be wrong

after: guess makes sense since he "preformed" at the awards 

Best Alternative
Geese – “Taxes” – Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam
mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE” – EST 19XX LLC/Interscope Records
Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide” – Mercury Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure” – Geffen Records ??????????
SOMBR – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Tame Impala – “Dracula” – Columbia Records
twenty one pilots – “Drag Path” – Fueled By Ramen

***the songs I recognized were Noah khans, sombr, and tame impala and I actually heard great divide a lot just does feel like alternative maybe? 

so singer songwriter but idk what category id put him into a box for....and tame impala feels so pop as does Rodrigo...

after: wow so Olivia Rodrigo is alternative, they already did away with the rock category probably just take away alt too if pop singers are winning.....

Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion” – Bebe Rexha Music LLC/EMPIRE

Harry Styles – “Aperture” – Columbia Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records ********
PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
Slayyyter – “DANCE…” – RECORDS/Columbia Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records

**Bebes feels very dance, maybe also aperture very edm house feel, and madonna but have never heard of that song before, actually besides harry styles, bebe, zara Larson, 

I have never heard any of these songs before, actually scratch that I have heard slayyer but also heard she's not a great person so many not her stuff as much 

Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka” – Republic Records/UMLE
Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL” – Rimas Entertainment
Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO” – Rancho Humilde/Street Mob Records/Sony Music US Latin
KAROL G – “Papasito” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla” – Columbia Records
Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA” – AWOO Corp./ Sony Music US Latin

Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai” – Sony Music US Latin

***besides being the Fifa World Cup anthem, it was such a huge song, maybe Karol g since she has been on a huge un now too, bad bunny feels like last years anthem maybe but he's still huge. Rosalia is awesome, and Anitta, 

after: great song but feels like last year if it makes sense, dai dai feels more this year....or even Karol g since she is on a stadium tour but idkkk

Best K-Pop
BLACKPINK – “JUMP” – YG Entertainment
BTS – “SWIM” – BIGHIT MUSIC
CORTIS – “REDRED” – BIGHIT MUSIC
KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI” – SOURCE MUSIC
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records

***theyre the only huge group touring right now and killing the stadiums, doing an amazing comeback tour. black pinks tour last year was huge and cortis feels next up for sure and I have heard Katseyes stuff around but feel bad cuz I feel like a member is always leaving and they have a tour coming up . 

after: makes sense with their stadium tour, given the backlash yeah why is katseye in kpop category since the song has zero Korea and they are identified as a global girl group not idol kpop group ? 

Best Country
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia Records
Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell” – Lost Highway/Interscope Records
Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Broken Bow Records
Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle” – Columbia Nashville
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Stella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost
Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette” – Back Blocks Music/MCA/Mercury Records

**im not even into country and I see this song everywhere on the radio, feels like it has to be her, cuz shboosey is huge, Lainey too, key as well and Luke combs but not as familiar with their songs. 

after: makes sense now since every article ever says it has been breaking records but I am not familiar with country so no clue about the entire category 

***and other categories I didn't know were a thing are best group, which went to BTS, Best long form Video which went to madonna, and Best album which went to Madonna. Truly was a madonna/Taylor night . Then Ariana Grande won song of the summer against in my opinion way to many people? not her win just that there were a million nominees compares to others....In my opinion I guess choosing Texas I guess since its all I hear about its breaking records and hav yet to listen to the entire song, or even really hear it at all

Technical Categories

**I like don't know tech stuff and just voting off of vibes...and direction and art direction and cinemtagroaphy no clue so left those blank

Best Direction
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”- Island
Taylor Swift – “Opalite” – Republic Records

Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – “SS26” – Atlantic Records
Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY” – Lil Monsters/Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Capitol Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready” – SMB Music/Warner Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Cinematography
A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY” – A$AP Worldwide/RCA Records
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Shaboozey – “Cowgirl” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

Best Editing
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – “I Just Might” – Atlantic Records
LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” – Lloud Co./ RCA Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”- Island
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

***out of all the videos hers seemed the best, Taylors feels last year, house tour as well, Lisas was cute, Bruno I feel like has the same music video and vibe all the time, and Ariana maybe also could get this just her videos vibe is kinda creepy and weird. 

Best Choreography
GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean” – Iconoclast Music
Harry Styles – “Dance No More” – Columbia Records
KATSEYE – “PINKY UP” – HYBE x Geffen Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

***katseye is the only one I saw choreo for out of all these songs so them? also side note I must be super old cuz that's the only song I recognize? besides Taylors I do recognize all the artists just not the specific song

Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me” – Republic Records
JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed” – Warner Records
Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records
PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson” – Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records
RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.” – Human Re Sources
Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia” – Republic Records

**literally just cuz I can't find a music video or any of the other nominees like Taylors I remember from last year, but stateside feels way more current and this year? 

saw one for Madonna but never heard of this song before now, saw its moninated for best choreo but its alright , the Zayn song is cute! Arianas music video the song is kinda sad, and kinda a creepy video