Taylor Swift to Be Honored at 2026 MTV VMAs With Inaugural Artist-Director Award

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Taylor Swift has been pegged to receive a key award at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards. CBS and MTV announced Monday morning that Swift will be the recipient of the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, a newly minted award set to go to artists who direct some or all of their own music videos.

The networks said that the award is being earmarked for artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” and “celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.”

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