VMAs 2026 best dressed! Taylor Swift dazzles in shimmering gown as she leads the red carpet fashion parade alongside leggy Paris Hilton and scantily clad JoJo

Music’s biggest stars took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

The VMAs red carpet is legendary for its daring fashion, and this year was no exception, with A-listers like Taylor Swift, Paris Hilton and JoJo stepping out in head-turning ensembles. 

Swift, 36, commanded the red carpet in a figure-hugging Tamara Ralph Couture look as she arrived at the event without her NFL star husband Travis Kelce, 36, who had a Chiefs game against the Dolphins in Miami earlier in the day.

Her glamorous outfit boasted a halter neck black top with a showstopping sheer back, seamlessly paired with a sparkly silver skirt. 

Swift became the most-awarded star in the show’s history after she nabbed the inaugural Artist Director Honors, before taking home the coveted Video of the Year moonperson for The Fate of Ophelia. 

The singer also debuted her much-anticipated Patient Zero music video, which stars her close pal Dakota Johnson and acclaimed actor Colin Farrell. 

The night also included a bewildering display from Madonna, 68, who sparked concern among fans as she appeared to forget why she was on stage while accepting the Best Dance award, after being torched for her opening performance. 

Swift’s appearance follows Friday’s release of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, the deluxe edition of her 12th studio album. 

Meanwhile, Hilton, 45, shimmered in a silver mini dress by The Blonds as she posed alongside her equally glamorous sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild, 42. 

JoJo, 35, kicked off the red carpet in a very revealing look by Nué, showing off her toned midriff in a tiny bra top and a sweeping long skirt. She accessorized the daring outfit with chunky silver jewelry and styled her long locks into soft waves. 

Beyonce’s protégée Chloe Bailey, 28, had all eyes on her in a bedazzled silver gown.

Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor, 35, looked nothing short of sensational in a sultry, plunging black lace gown by Zuhair Murad Couture. 

Elsewhere on the red carpet Normani sent temperatures soaring in a jaw-dropping dark metallic Robert Wun Couture gown, complete with an intricate floral embellishment.

Charli XCX showed off her impressive abs in a tiny black top and matching long skirt by Saint Laurent. 

British singer-songwriter Raye 28, sparkled in a plunging Georges Hobeika Couture gown. 

Bebe Rexha stepped out in a daring black lace mini dress and lace-up high heel boots.

Love Island USA beauty Olandria wowed  in a lace-up brown leather gown. 

Other early red carpet arrivals included model Haley Kalil, who was a vision in a shimmering silver Marc Bouwer gown that highlighted her toned arms.

Baby Spice Emma Bunton, 50, wore a sleek black dress by Annie’s Ibiza, boosting her frame with towering heels. 

Summer House star Ciara Miller sizzled in an Aidan Euan look, featuring a brown bra and lather lace-up pants. 

The fashion hits continued as Dracula: A Love Tale star Zoe Bleu Arquette stunned in a flowing grey dress while posing alongside her Swedish rapper partner, Yung Lean. 

Country star Shaboozey hit the red carpet in a black leather Chrome Hearts look. 

Model Madisin Rian brought a serious dose of high fashion to the event in a dramatic cow-print ensemble complete with a matching wide-brim hat. 

Keltie Knight rocked a cheetah print mini dress with over-the-knee studded boots. 

Reality TV star Chanel West Coast paired a cheetah lace dress with a cowboy hat. 

Rock royalty Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear of Nirvana reunited on the red carpet before accepting the Video Vanguard Award at the ceremony.

Grohl’s wife Jordyn Blum also made a rare appearance at the event. The couple’s marriage was rocked after he confirmed he had fathered a baby with another woman in September 2024. 

Meanwhile, Alyssa Smith opted for a pop of color in a bright green gown and matching heels. 

Off Campus star Ella Bright brought gothic glamour to the red carpet, oozing siren energy in a sultry black corset dress. 

Juliet Schroder showed off her legs in a silver mini dress while Eva Gutowski stunned in a gothic corset ensemble.

Swift earned the biggest award of the night at the VMAs and dedicated the massive, record breaking win to country legend Dolly Parton.

The megastar took home the coveted Video of the Year moonperson for The Fate of Ophelia as she recognized the iconic musician.

She said: ‘I want to dedicate this award to one person, and without whom this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl Dolly Parton.’

Swift was referencing her hit album The Life of a Showgirl as a new deluxe edition was released on Friday.

The A-lister continued her kind words about Dolly as she said: ‘Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich.’

‘Listening to her songs, it’s like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she has written.’

Parton passed away at 80-years-old on August 25 after a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer.

Swift continued her acceptance speech by saying: ‘And man, she handled this thing with such grace, and joy, and love, and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this.’

‘And everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love, and gratitude, and appreciation for her fans. I’m lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them.’

The Style hitmaker concluded her speech with a strong statement as she said: ‘I think we were all very very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time.’

Earlier in the night, Swift received the inaugural Artist Director Honors presented by pal Dakota Johnson and broke an epic record in the process.

With the crowning, she broke her tie with Beyonce, 44, as the most decorated artist of the VMAs, as they each came into Sunday’s event with 30 gongs to their name.

Swift also debuted the racy star-studded music video for her latest single Patient Zero. She directed and penned the script for the video, which stars Johnson and Farrell.

It features a slew of dramatic scenes, including countless hot and heavy moments between Johnson and Farrell, who play a couple in a toxic romance, as well as a forbidden kiss between Farrell and model Cara Delevingne, who plays his mistress.

Swift also acts in the video as the late fiancee of Farrell’s character who comes back from the dead to warn Johnson’s character of his abusive ways.

There is also a shock twist at the end. Headlines appear on screen that read: ‘Heiress dies of mystery illness – husband inherits billions,’ suggesting Farrell had killed Swift’s character for her money.

The video closes out with both Swift and Johnson visiting a gravesite that happens to belong to Swift’s ghost.

It shows Swift’s actual birth year as 1989 and the year of her death as 2022 – which some fans speculate is a jab at her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, who she split from that year.

While Johnson places a single rose on Swift’s headstone, the viewer is left wondering if she has left Farrell’s abusive character or if she decided to stay despite Swift’s advice from beyond the grave.

Elsewhere during the show Madonna sparked concern among fans as she appeared to forget why she was onstage as she scooped an award for Best Dance.

The Queen of Pop, 68, who was earlier torched online for her ‘utterly unfocused’ opening performance of hits Bring Your Love and Danceteria, took home three awards on the night, yet seemed confused as she took to the stage.

Madonna joined Charli XCX and Troye Sivan to accept the award for Confessions II – The Film – yet her acceptance speech took an awkward turn when she quipped, ‘What is this for, again?’ before Charli opened the announcement card to jog her memory.

Madonna then bizarrely announced how she had a laser ‘stuck’ up her posterior – appearing to refer to a vape – before leaving the stage.

The star earlier shocked fans as she made a blockbuster return to the ceremony, 23 years after her steamy kiss with Britney Spears made pop culture history.

She showed off her toned frame in a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello ensemble – but fans quickly slammed the star for making a ‘mess’ of her performance.

Madonna donned a black satin trench coat, a red leotard and knee-high boots as she performed hit Bring Your Love with collaborator, Sabrina Carpenter, 27.

However fans flocked to social media to accuse Madonna of lip-syncing and share their fears after the star was seen seemingly out of breath onstage.

Other performers of the night included Raye, who thrilled fans with her hit song Where Is My Husband? in a glimmering red dress.

Best new artist winner Sienna Spiro made her VMAs debut with the song Great Expectation from her debut album, Visitor, released in July.

Blackpink member Lisa – who’s been soaring with her solo career – performed SaWaDiKa, the first single from her EP Press Play, which is set to be released on October 23.

Gunna and country star Shaboozey also hit the stage with a performance of Cowgirl. 

Emotional highlights of the night included Sombr delivering a tribute to the late icon George Michael, while Kacey Musgraves brought down the house with a moving performance honoring country legend Dolly Parton.