The MTV Video Music Awards has never been one for playing it safe. With no traditional dress code to dictate what can and can’t be worn, music’s biggest stars are free to go as bold as they please. This year, the red carpet took a darker turn, with gothic glamour, dramatic silhouettes and plenty of sparkle lighting up Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. 

Setting the sartorial tone for the evening, Taylor Swift arrived in a look that was equal parts gothic glamour and silver-screen drama. Fresh from releasing The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, she channeled the album’s theatrical spirit in a black-and-silver Tamara Ralph couture gown featuring a sleeveless mock-neck bodice with sheer mesh cut-outs and a shimmering, draped silver sequined skirt. The singer completed the look with Le Silla shoes and jewellery from Leviev, Anita Ko, Forever Diamonds and Etho Maria. It was fittingly showgirl-esque for a night in which Swift received the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, bringing her career total to 31 VMA wins and making her the most-awarded artist in the ceremony’s history according to MTV.

Lisa, meanwhile, went all in on crimson. The BLACKPINK star arrived in a sheer, corseted red dress by The Attico, topped with an enormous faux-fur coat by Quine Li that swept into a dramatic train. Red pointed pumps and a matching accent in her high ponytail then completed the monochromatic look. If the dress alone was not quite enough drama for the VMAs, the coat certainly made up for it. 

Elsewhere, Charli xcx embraced her darker edge in a black velvet Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. The ensemble consisted of a low-rise column skirt and a cropped, balloon-sleeved top with a sheer mesh panel, giving the pop star a distinctly gothic, Morticia Addams-esque edge. Teyana Taylor also tapped into the night’s darker mood in a sheer black Zuhair Murad Fall 2026 Couture coat-gown, complete with a plunging neckline and feathered collar, cuffs and hem.

But not everyone was leaning into the shadows. Tyla channeled early-2000s energy in an electric-blue snakeskin-print bra and low-rise skirt from the Mowalola Spring/Summer 2027 collection, accessorised with a Chopard watch worn as an anklet. Troye Sivan went for dark romance in an Erdem Spring/Summer 2027 look, while RAYE brought Old Hollywood glamour to the carpet in a sheer halter gown from Georges Hobeika’s Couture collection, finished with Angara jewellery. 

Of course, the drama did not stop at the red carpet. Madonna opened the show with her first VMAs performance in 23 years, joined by Sabrina Carpenter for their collaboration “Bring Your Love” and later by Charli xcx for a surprise performance of “Danceteria Afterhours”. Later in the evening, Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton with an emotional rendition of “I Will Always Love You”, while Nirvana reunited onstage to accept the Video Vanguard Award. Taylor Swift also premiered her new music video “Patient Zero”, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. By the end of the night, Madonna had collected seven Moon Person trophies, while Swift took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Direction for “Opalite”. 

Video of the Year

WINNER: Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
GENER8ION, ft. Yung Lean, “STORM”
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”

Artist of the Year

WINNER: Madonna

Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

WINNER: BTS, “Swim”

Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

Best New Artist

WINNER: Sienna Spiro

Bella Kay
CORTIS
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Stella Lefty

Best Collaboration

WINNER: Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”

Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T & Malice, “Chains & Whips”
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me”
PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part”

Best Pop

WINNER: LISA ft. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”

Ariana Grande, “hate that i made you love me”
Charli xcx, “SS26”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drop dead”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Hip-Hop

WINNER: Cardi B ft. Kehlani, “Safe”

Don Toliver, “E85”
Drake, “Janice STFU”
Megan Thee Stallion, “LOVER GIRL”
Travis Scott, “DUMBO”
Tyler, The Creator, “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE”

Best R&B

WINNER: Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”

Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious”
Dave & Tems, “Raindance”
Justin Bieber, “YUKON”
Kehlani, “Folded”
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime”