Taylor Swift to Madonna, 10 artists with most VMA wins 

Madonna has made multiple headlines after walking away with seven VMA trophies at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The sixty-eight-year-old claimed artist of the year, best collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, and best dance during the telecast alone. She beat out Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen for the top prize, in a ceremony that largely belonged to female artists.

She had entered the night with thirteen nominations, more than anyone else. Taylor Swift, meanwhile, added to her tally on the evening, extending her standing as the most-awarded artist in VMA history. Accepting artist of the year, Madonna Louise Ciccone reflected on her long history with the show, sharing that

"Most of you were probably not born when I performed at the very first VMAs forty-three years ago."

The Die Another Day singer then shifted to something more personal.

"I spent the last year and a half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make. My hope for all of you here tonight is that you do the same. Find yourself and believe in yourself," she added.

The artists who made VMA history with the most wins:

Fatboy Slim:

As per a report shared by Goldderby, Fatboy Slim sits at nine VMA wins, making him one of the most decorated artists in the award show's history. He claimed three of those for "Praise You" and six for "Weapon of Choice," the latter of which stands as one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.

On the touring front, as per a report shared by Billboard, the British DJ born Norman Cook will be heading to Australia in March 2027 for seven coast-to-coast dates across Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. The run includes a three-night stand at Carriageworks in Sydney, where he plans to play more intimate, underground and urban outdoor spaces. He shared in a statement that

"For this tour to Australia I wanted to get up close with my people, play venues with real atmosphere and have a proper party. Bridges, rivers, parks, old railway sheds — if it's a bit weird and the sound system's loud enough, I'm there."

Janet Jackson:

As per a report shared by Goldderby, Janet Jackson also sits at nine VMA wins across her career. The legendary pop star claimed trophies for "Nasty," "The Pleasure Principle," "Rhythm Nation," "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," and "If," picking up one win apiece for each. Her video "Scream" added three more to that tally. Jackson also claimed the Video Vanguard Award, though despite being nominated twice for Video of the Year, that particular prize has eluded her.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers round out the nine-win mark as well, as per Goldderby. The rock band collected two wins each for "Give It Away" and "Californication," and one for "Under the Bridge" and "Dani California." They also took home Best Artist Website, the Video Vanguard Award, and the Global Icon Award. That being said, the top prize has remained out of reach for the band too, as they have received three nominations for Video of the Year without a win.

Green Day:

As per a report shared by Goldderby, Green Day sit at eleven VMA wins in total. The punk band claimed one for "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," six for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," one for "American Idiot," and three for "21 Guns." "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" also took home Video of the Year, and stands as one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.

BTS:

BTS sit at thirteen wins as of September 2026. The septet swept all three categories in which they were nominated at the 2026 MTV VMAs, taking home Song of the Year for "Swim," Best K-pop, and Best Group. The group did not attend the ceremony. That being said, their Best Group win was their fifth in the category, following four consecutive victories from 2019 to 2022, making them the most-awarded act in that category's history.

Eminem:

As per the report shared by Goldderby, Eminem sits at fifteen VMA wins across his career. The rapper claimed trophies for "My Name Is," "Forgot About Dre," "The Real Slim Shady," "Without Me," "Lose Yourself," "We Made You," "Not Afraid," "Rap God," and "Houdini." He has been nominated nine times for Video of the Year, winning twice, for "The Real Slim Shady" and "Without Me."

Lady Gaga:

Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake both sit at eighteen wins. The pop star claimed trophies for "Paparazzi," "Poker Face," "Bad Romance," "Telephone," "Born This Way," and "Rain on Me," and also received the Tricon Award and Artist of the Year. Her video "Bad Romance" won Video of the Year and stands as the second most awarded video in VMAs history.

Madonna:

As per the report shared by Goldderby, Madonna officially holds twenty-six competitive lifetime VMA wins following her record-breaking showing at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Prior to this year, she had claimed trophies for "Papa Don't Preach," "Express Yourself," "Like a Prayer," "Vogue," "The Immaculate Collection," "Rain," "Take a Bow," "Ray of Light," "Frozen," and "Beautiful Stranger," and also received the honorary Video Vanguard Award. Out of four nominations for Video of the Year, she has won once, for "Ray of Light."

Beyoncé:

Beyoncé sits above Madonna at twenty-nine wins. Her tally spans three different chapters of her career. As a member of Destiny's Child, she won for "Say My Name" and "Survivor." As a member of The Carters, she claimed two wins for "Apeshit." As a solo artist, her wins span "Crazy in Love," "Naughty Girl," "Check on It," "Beautiful Liar," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Run the World (Girls)," "Countdown," "Pretty Hurts," "Drunk in Love," "7/11," "Hold Up," "Lemonade," "Formation," and "Brown Skin Girl." She also received the Video Vanguard Award. Out of seven nominations for Video of the Year, Beyoncé has prevailed twice, for "Single Ladies" and "Formation," the latter of which remains one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.

Taylor Swift:

Taylor Swift officially holds thirty-three lifetime VMA wins, cementing her status as the most-awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history. Prior to this year, she had claimed trophies for "You Belong with Me," "I Knew You Were Trouble," "Blank Space," "Bad Blood," "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," "You Need to Calm Down," "Me!," "The Man," "All Too Well: The Short Film," "Anti-Hero," and "Fortnight." Her Video of the Year wins span "Bad Blood," "You Need to Calm Down," "All Too Well," "Anti-Hero," and "Fortnight."

Swift also debuted the music video for her new song "Patient Zero" during the award show, a visual she directed herself, starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

Accepting her award, Swift reflected on her two decades of involvement with music videos, sharing that

"I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos twenty years ago."

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She added that she has been involved in making roughly sixty music videos, eighteen of which she wrote and directed herself. She also took a moment to address her fans directly, sharing that

"You, the fans, make it so much fun."

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