Taylor Swift is set to become the first recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, adding a newly created honor to her history with the ceremony. CBS and MTV announced the award on Sept. 21, with the ceremony scheduled for Sept. 27 in Los Angeles.

The new Artist Director Honors recognizes artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music videos and visual storytelling. MTV said the honor celebrates a sustained body of directorial work and the development of a distinctive directorial voice.

Swift has increasingly taken control of the visual direction surrounding her music. Her directing credits include “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “All Too Well: The Short Film,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Lavender Haze,” “I Can See You,” “Karma,” “Fortnight,” “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite.”

Her work behind the camera has already been recognized at the VMAs. Swift has received seven nominations for Best Direction and has won the category four times. The new Artist Director Honors differs from the competitive Best Direction category by recognizing her broader body of directorial work rather than a single music video.

Swift also enters this year’s ceremony with 11 total nominations after additional social categories were introduced. Her nominations include Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Direction for “Opalite,” Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.

The new honor will also affect Swift’s standing in the history of the VMAs. She currently shares the record for most VMA wins with Beyoncé, with 30 Moon Person awards. The Artist Director Honors will give Swift her 31st VMA and put her ahead of Beyoncé as the ceremony’s most awarded artist.

Swift’s latest directing work includes the videos for “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite,” continuing a body of visual projects in which she has incorporated narrative elements, symbolism and autobiographical themes. Her 2021 All Too Well: The Short Film, starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, also expanded her directing work beyond the traditional music-video format.

The 2026 VMAs will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27. The ceremony is scheduled to air from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming through Paramount+ in the United States.

Madonna is scheduled to open this year’s ceremony, while other announced performers include LISA, Shaboozey, RAYE, GENER8ION, Gunna, Sienna Spiro and Yung Lean. Additional performers, presenters and special guests are expected to be announced ahead of the ceremony.

Swift’s Artist Director Honors will therefore be presented during a VMAs ceremony where she is already nominated across multiple categories, with the new award formally recognizing her work as a director alongside her career as a recording artist and performer.