Taylor Swift is already making MTV’s Video Music Awards week her own.
On Wednesday, Swift announced Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an expanded edition of her 2025 album that was released on Friday with four new songs: “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.” The reveal came one day after she announced “Patient Zero” as her new single — and just days before she adds another first to her résumé at the VMAs.
Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors during Sunday’s ceremony, CBS and MTV announced. The new award recognizes music artists whose work behind the camera has pushed creative boundaries and advanced visual storytelling.
For Swift, it marks the latest evolution in a VMAs journey that began nearly two decades ago, long before she was the one calling the shots behind the camera.
On Thursday, Swift posted a teaser for the “Patient Zero” music video featuring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, which she said will premiere at Sunday’s VMAs.
Swift made her first appearance at the awards show in 2008. One year later, her Best Female Video win for “You Belong With Me” became part of pop-culture history when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech to declare that Beyoncé had made “one of the best videos of all time.” Beyoncé later invited Swift back to the stage to finish her speech after winning Video of the Year.
Since then, the VMAs have provided the backdrop for some of Swift’s biggest career moments. In 2019, she opened the show with “You Need to Calm Down” and “Lover.” Three years later, she announced Midnights while accepting Video of the Year for All Too Well: The Short Film.
That project also cemented her growing reputation as a filmmaker. Swift wrote and directed the nearly 15-minute film, starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, which won Video of the Year, Best Longform Video and Best Direction at the 2022 VMAs.
Swift first took home Best Direction in 2020 for “The Man,” her solo directorial debut. She followed that with wins for All Too Well: The Short Film, “Anti-Hero” and “Fortnight,” bringing her total to four wins from seven nominations in the category.
Her expanding body of work behind the camera also includes “cardigan,” “willow,” “Bejeweled,” “Lavender Haze,” “Karma,” “I Can See You,” “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite.” Across those projects, Swift has become known for building cinematic worlds filled with Easter eggs, recurring characters and visual callbacks that extend the storytelling of her songs.
The new honor will also break Swift’s tie with Beyoncé as the most decorated artist in VMAs history. The two entered this year with 30 Moon Person awards apiece; the Artist Director award will bring Swift’s total to 31.
Whether Swift will be there to accept the honor in person remains unclear. Her husband, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs face the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday — leaving fans to wonder whether she’ll spend the day in the stands in Miami or the night in the spotlight in Los Angeles.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on CBS. The ceremony will be simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ Premium in the U.S.
