Madonna and Taylor Dominated at a Diminished MTV VMAs

Once upon a time, the MTV Video Music Awards were a major part of the pop culture calendar. It was the too-cool-for-school ceremony where it felt like literally anything could happen. Some of the most iconic TV performances in pop happened at the VMAs. In an era where MTV is on life support and music videos are a diminished artform, forever bound to the vertical format of Tiktok virality, the idea of the VMAs still being a thing is almost quaint. When was the last time you watched a music video that truly blew you away? Well, the Paramount monopoly still wants your attention, and with the show broadcasted live on MTV, CBS, and Paramount+, they decided to pull out one or two stops.

The big winner of the night was Madonna, who took home seven trophies for videos on the Confessions II album. I am admittedly biased as a Madonna fan but this felt deserved, or at least as deserved as a VMA in 2026 can be. She also reminded audiences that she is still the Queen of Pop for a reason, with a great performance of “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria Afterhours”, with features from Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Seth Rogen, and too many hot people to count.

Video of the Year went to Taylor Swift for “The Fate of Ophelia”. She also won Best Direction” and the first ever MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. Said award was very “Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence”, particularly after it was revealed that the entire idea for it came from “external” forces. Which forces, MTV? David Ellison? Swift’s record label? Swift herself? With this totally real award, Swift broke the record for the most ever VMAs, beating Beyonce. One imagines a bit of ego stroking was encouraged so that Swift would debut her latest music video, “Patient Zero”, during the ceremony. Said video features Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

Kacey Musgraves performed a moving tribute to Dolly Parton, while an ensemble including Raye, Sombr, and Adam Lambert paid homage to George Michael. Ariana Grande won Song of Summer for “Hate That I Made You Love Me”, which has nothing to do with music videos. There’s no rock award anymore, but Best Alternative went to Olivia Rodrigo. The Video Vanguard Award, which is meant to be the top honour of the night, was given to Nirvana. Gener8ion and Yung Lean recreated their excellent “Storm II” video, which made for a real evening highlight.

The VMAs are obviously a shadow of what they once were, mostly because the artform of music videos isn’t taken as seriously, a few exceptions aside, and the music industry as a whole is desperate to cut corners. MTV is a relic. The VMAs was a way to celebrate that which was maligned by the wider culture, but also a kind of accepted rebellion. They would get weird and political, and put on the kind of show that nobody else could or would. Maybe we’re all too jaded now, or fan culture is too smothered by the need to act as unpaid PR agents for their idols. That and there’s no money in the biz now. I feel like the only way to make the VMAs work in 2026 is to lean in hard with the niche and daring. But could they even do that under Ellison ownership? Not even close. The VMAs used to feel like the peak of the zeitgeist. Now, it’s a rehash with occasional glimmers of excellence. And doesn’t that feel like the modern music industry in a nutshell?