Singer will receive a new honor Sunday and reach 31 awards; Madonna returns to the VMA stage after 23 years
Taylor Swift is about to set another music industry record. The singer is set to become the most awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history during Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.
Swift will receive the first Artist Director Honors in VMA history.
The honor will bring her career total to 31 awards, moving her ahead of Beyoncé. The two artists had been tied with 30 awards each.
Taylor also has nine nominations
In addition to the special honor, Taylor Swift enters the ceremony with nine nominations.
Madonna leads this year’s nominations with 11.
Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars and other major artists are also among the nominees.
A total of 26 artists are receiving their first VMA nominations this year.
Madonna returns after 23 years
Another major moment of the night will be Madonna’s return to the VMA stage.
The singer is scheduled to perform at the awards for the first time in 23 years.
Nirvana will also be honored with the Video Vanguard Award.
The Best Dance category returns to the awards after a seven-year absence.
Awards take place in Los Angeles
The 2026 VMAs will be held at the Peacock Theater.
Snoop Dogg will host the ceremony.
The live broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The ceremony will air on CBS and will be available internationally on Paramount+ the following day.
Source: Associated Press.
