Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on 27 September. The new award recognises artists whose work behind the camera has expanded music-video storytelling, marking Swift’s influence as a director as well as a performer.

Swift made her solo directorial debut with “The Man” in 2020 and later directed All Too Well: The Short Film, which won three VMAs in 2022. She has 30 Moon Persons, seven nominations and four wins for best direction, and leads this year’s nominations with 11, while Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award.