Nigerian music stars Burna Boy and Tems failed to secure wins in their nominated categories as global pop icon Madonna dominated the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The awards ceremony, held on Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, saw Madonna emerge as one of the night’s biggest winners after claiming seven awards from 13 nominations.
Madonna’s haul included the coveted Artist of the Year award, as well as Best Dance for her Confessions II short film.
She also won Best Collaboration for Bring Your Love, featuring Sabrina Carpenter, alongside awards for Best Cinematography and Best Album.
The impressive showing further underlined Madonna’s enduring influence on global pop culture, as the veteran performer continued to command attention at one of the music industry’s biggest award ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy and Tems were unable to convert their nominations into awards, despite their growing international presence and recognition at the VMAs.
Their omission comes as Nigerian and African music continues to expand its footprint on major global award platforms.
Taylor Swift also emerged among the major winners of the night, joining Madonna at the forefront of the 2026 VMAs celebrations.
