Taylor Swift will make MTV Video Music Awards history as the first recipient of the newly created Artist-Director Award, recognising her contribution to directing and visual storytelling across her music projects.
According to Reuters, citing an announcement by CBS and MTV, the new honour was created to recognise musicians who have developed a significant and enduring body of work behind the camera, directing music videos and helping shape visual storytelling within the industry.
New award recognises directing career
CBS and MTV said the honorary award recognises an “enduring and influential body of work” by artists who have expanded creative boundaries and established a distinctive directorial identity.
Swift has long extended her work beyond singing and songwriting, directing a series of her own music videos and film projects.
The 36-year-old has received seven VMA nominations for Best Direction, winning the category four times.
Among the projects for which she has received recognition are The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite and Anti-Hero.
Swift moves ahead of Beyoncé
Swift had already accumulated 30 MTV Video Music Awards, putting her level with Beyoncé as the most decorated artist in the history of the awards.
The new Artist-Director Award will bring Swift’s total to 31 VMAs, moving her into sole possession of first place on the all-time list.
Competing for further awards
Swift’s presence at this year’s VMAs will not be limited to the honorary award.
She is nominated for Video of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia and is also competing for Artist of the Year, alongside other major honours.
The official MTV VMAs website lists Swift among the nominees in the ceremony’s leading categories.
Ceremony set for 27 September
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, 27 September, with Snoop Dogg serving as host.
The ceremony will be broadcast live in the United States on CBS and MTV and streamed through Paramount+. It will become available internationally the following day.
Another landmark year for Swift
The new honour comes during another highly successful period in Swift’s career.
The 14-time Grammy winner has won the Grammy for Album of the Year four times.
Her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, also recorded the biggest first-week album sales of the modern era, according to Luminate figures cited by Billboard.
The Artist-Director Award adds another dimension to Swift’s record at the VMAs, formally recognising not only her success as a performer and songwriter but also her growing body of work as a director.
