Taylor Swift became the most-awarded solo artist in MTV Video Music Awards history Sunday, collecting three honors and raising her career total to 33.
According to the official CBS and MTV winners announcement, Swift won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Best Direction for “Opalite” at the Sept. 27 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. She also received the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
The recognition moved Swift ahead of Beyoncé after the two entered the awards cycle with 30 career wins each.
Swift attended the ceremony in a black-and-silver Tamara Ralph gown. She also premiered the music video for “Patient Zero,” which she directed and which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, according to the official CBS and MTV premiere announcement.
While accepting the Artist Director Honors, Swift reflected on making roughly 60 music videos during her 20-year career.
The official Artist Director Honors announcement described the award as recognizing artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced visual storytelling.
MTV said the honor celebrates “a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.”
Swift’s official directed-projects archive includes “Patient Zero,” “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “All Too Well: The Short Film,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled” and “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.
While accepting Video of the Year, Swift called Dolly Parton “the ultimate showgirl” and said the accomplishment “wouldn’t have been possible without her.”
Swift entered the ceremony with 11 nominations after additional social categories were announced, placing her second behind Madonna’s 13, according to the official VMAs tip sheet.
The initial nominations announcement had listed nine nominations for Swift and 11 for Madonna before the social categories were added.
Earlier this year, Swift was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Steven Spielberg presented the honor during the organization’s June ceremony, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Bruce Gillmer, an executive producer of the VMAs, told The Associated Press that the Artist Director Honors was an extension of the Video Vanguard Award and could be considered even larger in stature. Gillmer said the initial idea came from an external source but did not elaborate.
Nirvana received the 2026 Video Vanguard Award, according to the official CBS and MTV announcement. Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear represented the band at the ceremony.
Taylor Swift’s 33 VMA Wins
2026
- Artist Director Honors
- Video of the Year — “The Fate of Ophelia”
- Best Direction — “Opalite”
2024
- Song of Summer — “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone
- Best Editing — “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone
- Best Direction — “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone
- Best Collaboration — “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone
- Video of the Year — “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone
- Best Pop
- Artist of the Year
2023
- Album of the Year — “Midnights”
- Show of the Summer
- Artist of the Year
- Best Visual Effects — “Anti-Hero”
- Best Cinematography — “Anti-Hero”
- Best Direction — “Anti-Hero”
- Best Pop — “Anti-Hero”
- Song of the Year — “Anti-Hero”
- Video of the Year — “Anti-Hero”
2022
- Video of the Year — “All Too Well: The Short Film”
- Best Long Form Video — “All Too Well: The Short Film”
- Best Direction — “All Too Well: The Short Film”
2020
- Best Direction — “The Man”
2019
- Best Visual Effects — “ME!” featuring Brendon Urie
- Video for Good — “You Need to Calm Down”
- Video of the Year — “You Need to Calm Down”
2017
- Best Collaboration — “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” with Zayn
2015
- Best Collaboration — “Bad Blood” featuring Kendrick Lamar
- Video of the Year — “Bad Blood” featuring Kendrick Lamar
- Best Pop Video — “Blank Space”
- Best Female Video — “Blank Space”
2013
- Best Female Video — “I Knew You Were Trouble”
2009
- Best Female Video — “You Belong With Me”
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