Most wins at the MTV Video Music Awards

At the conclusion of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on 11 September 2024, female vocalists Beyoncé (b. Beyoncé Knowles) and Taylor Swift (both USA) were tied on 30 wins apiece. Beyoncé claimed her first two awards as a member of Destiny’s Child – Best R&B Video for “Say My Name” in 2000 and “Survivor” in 2001 – with her most recent win for “Brown Skin Girl” (Best Cinematography), featuring daughter Blue Ivy Carter, at the 2021 VMAs. Swift first made her mark at the event with “You Belong with Me” (Best Female Video) in 2009. At the 2023 edition, she took home nine awards (including Video of the Year for “Anti-Hero”) to bring Queen Bey’s record haul of 30 trophies into view, and in 2024 she bagged a share of the spoils by trading in seven of her 12 nominations for trophies: five for the Post Malone duet “Fortnight” – Video of the Year, Best Collaboration, Song of Summer, Best Editing (Chancler Haynes) and Best Direction (Swift herself) – plus Artist of the Year (becoming the first singer to retain the award) and Best Pop.

Beyoncé’s tally of VMAs also includes two wins as part of the duo The Carters (with husband Jay-Z). Her solo wins, therefore, total 26 – four behind Swift as a solo artist. Madonna (20 wins, in 1986–99) trailed the trophy-laden duo of Beyoncé and Swift by 10 VMAs awards, as of 2024.

The MTV VMAs were first staged in 1984.

The 2024 edition took place at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, USA. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion hosted, with performances from the likes of Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter, Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award winner Katy Perry, KAROL G, Lisa (of BLACKPINK fame), Chappell Roan and Benson Boone.