Taylor Swift Wins Video Of The Year At 2026 VMAs

Everything in the back end of the telecast pointed at Swift, and Pat noticed. The show had turned into one long run-up to her video.

Pat

@BarstoolPAT

So the entire show was just a lead into Taylor Swift’s music video. Got it

First came the Artist Director Honors. It's a brand-new award and Swift is its first recipient, which fits the Ophelia run: she wrote and directed that video herself.

Chicks in the Office

@ChicksInTheOff

Taylor Swift accepts the Artist Director Honors onstage at the #VMAs tonight 🥹👏

Sienna Spiro took Best New Artist. Then MTV handed out Video of the Year last, and it went to 'The Fate of Ophelia'.

Chicks in the Office

@ChicksInTheOff

The #VMAs saved the best award for last! Taylor Swift takes home Video of the Year for 'The Fate of Ophelia' 🥹👏

Swift dedicated the win to Dolly Parton, 'the ultimate showgirl'. That tied the ending back to the Musgraves tribute from earlier in the night. She also talked about shooting the video as one continuous take and having to learn how to hide the cuts. Madonna opened the show, and Swift closed it with the biggest award of the night. Pat can call it a lead-in, but the winner's list backs Taylor.