BTS Sweeps Three, Lisa Makes History as K-POP Claims Half of Major VMA Awards

BTS and Lisa took home four awards between them at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, while CORTIS and KATSEYE ended the night without trophies despite landing multiple nominations.

The ceremony was held Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Snoop Dogg serving as host. Madonna opened the show with her first VMA performance in 23 years and went on to win seven awards, including Artist of the Year, the most of any artist that night. Taylor Swift took Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia" and became the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

BTS swept all three categories in which it was nominated. "SWIM" won Song of the Year and Best K-POP, while the group also picked up Best Group. It was BTS's first Song of the Year win at the VMAs and brought its career total to 13 trophies. The group previously won Best Group four years in a row from 2019 to 2022 and remains the most-awarded K-POP act in the show's history.

K-POP artists ultimately claimed two of the night's four major awards, with BTS taking Song of the Year and Lisa winning Best Pop.

This year's ceremony was the first VMAs since all seven BTS members reunited following the completion of their mandatory military service. The group did not attend the Los Angeles ceremony as it is currently in the middle of its "ARIRANG" world tour, but shared a statement through BigHit Music following the wins.

"We sincerely thank ARMY for always sending us unwavering love and support," BTS said. "'ARIRANG' feels like a new beginning for us, which makes these awards even more meaningful."

The group added that receiving Song of the Year for "SWIM" was possible because of those who have supported its music, saying, "We will continue to show you good music and performances with all seven of us together."

Lisa, meanwhile, won Best Pop for "Dream," featuring Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, becoming the first K-POP soloist and first Asian solo artist to win the category. BTS previously won Best Pop as a group in 2020.

Lisa appeared emotional as she accepted the award, beginning her speech with the Thai greeting "Sawatdee kha" before thanking MTV and her fans, known as Lilies. "All those late-night dreams brought me here today," she said. "I wouldn't be here without you guys."

She later returned for the first live performance of her new single "SaWaDiKa." The stage drew on Muay Thai and boxing, with Lisa and her dancers trading fight-inspired choreography before she climbed onto a moving platform. Wearing a red one-piece with "Lisa Worldwide" written across the front, she performed against a backdrop filled with Bangkok references before ending the stage by getting into a Thai tuk-tuk and riding off.

It was Lisa's latest solo VMA performance after making her solo debut on the show's stage in 2024. "Dream" had also been nominated for Best K-POP, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

The results were less rewarding for K-POP's newer names. CORTIS, the five-member BigHit Music group that debuted in August 2025, picked up its first VMA nominations just over a year into its career. The group was nominated for Best New Artist, Best K-POP with "REDRED" and Best Group, but Best New Artist ultimately went to British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro.

KATSEYE returned to the VMAs after winning Push Performance of the Year for "Touch" in 2025. The group had four nominations this time, including Best K-POP and Best Choreography for "Pinky Up," Best Group and Song of the Summer for "Hootie Frutti," but did not add another trophy. KATSEYE was not at the Los Angeles ceremony after performing on "Saturday Night Live" in New York the previous night.

BLACKPINK was also nominated for Best K-POP with "JUMP" and Best Group but did not win either award. By the end of the night, BTS had collected three trophies and Lisa one, while CORTIS and KATSEYE's multiple nominations did not translate into wins.