Madonna Wins Artist of the Year at 2026 VMAs: ‘I Spent the Last Year-and-a-Half Finding Myself’

Madonna took home the Moon Person for Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, beating out nominees Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift.

“First of all, I would like to thank my fingers because I can always count on them,” Madonna joked before launching into an anecdote about her debut at the very first VMAs, hosted back in 1984. “I had a little problem with my shoes … and I dove onto the stage to try to make myself look cute and sexy and like I meant to do it,” she said. “I went backstage feeling really proud of myself and my manager told me that my career was over.” 

She continued: “I spent the last year-and-a-half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music I wanted to make … My hope for all of you here tonight is that you spend the next year or the next 10 years or the rest of your life doing the same.” She also thanked long-time confidant and producer Stuart Price, calling him her “ride or die.”

“Who knew that 20 years after Confessions [on a Dancefloor] we could pull it off again [with Confessions II]?”

The award helps cement a major VMAs year for Madonna, who came into the show leading all nominees with 13. While most of them were for the short film she made for her celebrated new album, Confessions II, the Sabrina Carpenter-featuring “Bring Your Love” also won Best Collaboration.
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Earlier in the evening, Madonna opened the VMAs with a massive performance of “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria” featuring cameos from Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Sombr, Julia Garner, Debi Mazur, Seth Rogan, Andrew Watt, and Fab Five Freddy.

Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are airing live on CBS and MTV, and livestreaming on Paramount+ (Premium) on Sunday from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. See the complete winners list.