The Biggest Fashion Moments From the 2026 MTV VMAs

If there’s one awards show where playing it safe on the red carpet has never been the norm, it’s the MTV Video Music Awards. Over the years, the VMAs have given us everything from naked dresses and theatrical costume changes to fashion moments that have become almost as famous as the music itself (see: Lady Gaga’s meat dress). And with some of music’s biggest names converging in Los Angeles for the 2026 ceremony, this year’s red carpet has plenty of potential to carry that tradition on.

The night is already shaping up to be a major one. Madonna leads the nominations with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven apiece. PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, Shakira, and Tate McRae are also among the evening’s top contenders.

Madonna is set to open the ceremony with her first VMA performance in 23 years, while Kacey Musgraves will return to the VMA stage for the first time in five years with a tribute to Dolly Parton. The lineup also includes Raye making her VMA performance debut and Lisa giving the TV debut of her new single “SaWaDiKa.” This year’s nominee class brings plenty of fresh faces, too, with 26 first-time nominees, including Olivia Dean and Kali Uchis.

Then there’s Swift, who is poised for an especially momentous night. She will receive MTV’s inaugural Artist Director Honors for her contributions to music-video storytelling. The award will also make Swift the most-awarded artist in VMA history. And she’s adding another event to her schedule: Swift will premiere the music video for her new single, “Patient Zero,” during the broadcast, just two days after the song arrived on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.

But before the Moon Person trophies are handed out, there’s the red carpet. From established VMA fashion veterans to first-time nominees, these are the 2026 looks worth remembering.

Taylor Swift

For her big night, Taylor Swift, styled by Joseph Cassell Falconer, arrived in a dress to match the occasion. The Tamara Ralph design started with a black turtleneck bodice with sheer mesh panels. The sleeveless top then gave way to a shimmering silver maxi skirt. A back slit on the asymmetrical style offered a peek at the strappy silver stilettos, while a single chandelier earring nearly grazed her shoulder.

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor, who is nominated for Best Collaboration for “Hard Part,” kicked off the naked-dress trend in a crochet-like black gown from Zuhair Murad’s Fall 2026 Couture collection. Her swept-up hair emphasized the plunging neckline, while a belted waist, feathered cuffs, and a feather-trimmed hem added texture.

Lisa

Lisa took red carpet dressing literally in a sheer red column gown with a corset-like bodice from The Attico. A voluminous furry stole by Quine Li framed her shoulders and extended into a sweeping train, creating a striking contrast with the body-skimming silhouette. The singer-actor, who is nominated in four categories tonight, kept the palette monochromatic with matching pointed-toe pumps and a red hair accessory. Zoom in to see the chunky silver cuff rings on her fingers.

Normani

Normani leaned into high-shine glamour in a Robert Wun gown that paired a liquid-metal bodice with a black trumpet skirt and sleeves-turned-opera gloves. An oversized botanical adornment bloomed from the left shoulder, softening the dress’s futuristic finish. The singer skipped the hat shown on the runway, instead pairing the look with chandelier earrings and a pared-back bun.

Tyla

In true VMAs fashion, Tyla—who is presenting at tonight’s ceremony— skipped a top, arriving instead in a bra and low-rise pencil skirt from Mowalola’s Spring 2027 collection. The skin-baring set leaned into Y2K nostalgia with a bold blue snakeskin print and coordinating choker. Even the ankle-strap heels were in a snakeskin print.

To be continued