Taylor Swift won the top award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards and used her acceptance speech to honor Dolly Parton, according to theglobeandmail.com. With the win, Swift became the most-awarded artist in the history of the show, the outlet reports.
The Globe and Mail reported the dedication, while CTV News and the BBC both confirmed that Swift now holds the record for the most MTV VMA wins by any artist. The BBC also noted that Madonna picked up a win at the same ceremony.
InStyle reported that Swift dedicated the major award to an unexpected person, matching the Globe and Mail's account that Parton was the recipient of the tribute. Yahoo News Canada covered Swift's appearance at the event, describing a black-and-silver gown she wore on the night.
The ceremony took place in 2026, with results reported on Sept. 28, 2026, according to the Globe and Mail's publication timestamp. Swift's record-setting total surpasses the previous mark held by another artist, though the reporting did not specify the prior record holder or the exact number of wins.
Swift's career VMA tally has grown steadily across multiple ceremonies, and the 2026 show added to that total. Madonna's win at the same event was noted by the BBC, indicating the evening recognized multiple veteran artists alongside Swift's milestone.
What to watch next: whether Swift or MTV confirms the exact number of her career VMA wins, and how the record shapes the next awards season.
