Taylor Swift honours Dolly Parton during record-breaking night at MTV VMAs

Taylor Swift’s historic night at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards became one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments as she dedicated its biggest prize to the late Dolly Parton.

The singer collected Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia, Best Direction for Opalite and the inaugural Artist Director Honors award.

Those victories brought Swift’s career total to 33 VMAs, taking her beyond Beyoncé and making her the most-awarded artist in the ceremony’s history.

Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, 27 September, the ceremony was hosted by Snoop Dogg and featured performances from Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Lisa, RAYE and other leading artists, writes Music News Blitz’s Anna Ferraz.