Charli XCX flashes her abs in a daring crop top as she leads the Brits on the red carpet at the MTV VMAs with glam Raye and Emma Bunton

It was a night of glitz, with music's biggest stars pulling out all the stops to look their best.And it seems the Brits were in no mood to be shown up by their friends from across the pond. Charli XCX led the way on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards at LA's Peacock Theater last night. The singer, 34, showed off her impressive abs in a tiny black mesh crop top and a matching long velvet skirt by Saint LaurentCharli suffered an awkward nip slip at one point while posing for cameras on the red carpet. Raye, 28, meanwhile, sparkled in a plunging silver Georges Hobeika couture gown which was embellished with thousands of beads in her first outfit of the evening. The singer later took to the stage in a red lace dress to perform a medley of I Will Overcome and Where Is My Husband!. Raye then changed into a plunging black gown to join Teddy Swims, Sombr and Adam Lambert for a special tribute to George Michael. Emma Bunton, 50, made a rare solo appearance at the VMAs, 29 years after the Spice Girls first took the event by storm. Charli XCX led the British stars on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night Raye, 28, meanwhile, sparkled in a plunging silver Georges Hobeika couture gown which was embellished with thousands of beads in her first outfit of the eveningEmma Bunton, 50, made a rare solo appearance at the VMAs, 29 years after the Spice Girls first took the event by stormThe radio presenter put on a leggy display in a black velvet playsuit which she teamed with platform heels. Emma was at the ceremony to present Madonna with one of her multiple awards. London-born Sienna Spiro took home the coveted Best New Artist award over nominees like Bella Kay and Magnus Ferrell. She also made her VMA performance debut in a custom silver minidress by Agro Studio which was inspired by Paco Rabanne's 1967 creation. The songstress, who is behind the viral hit Die On This Hill, hit the red carpet in a custom champagne beaded gown by Valentino. She complemented the look with Jimmy Choo shoes and Chopard jewellery. PinkPantheress, 25, won her first MTV VMA for Best Art Direction for her hit track, Stateside, alongside Zara Larsson and director Charlotte Rutherford. The singer, whose real name is Victoria Beverley Walker, stunned in a burgundy polka dot Nina Ricci ruffled dress. The singer, 34, showed off her impressive abs in a tiny black mesh crop top and a matching long velvet skirt by Saint Laurent Charli XCX suffered an awkward wardrobe malfunction while on the red carpet as she endured an unfortunate nip slip at one point while she was posing for cameras London-born Sienna Spiro, who is behind the viral hit Die On This Hill, hit the red carpet in a custom champagne beaded gown by Valentino Victoria Beverley Walker, known professionally as PinkPantheress, stunned in a burgundy polka dot Nina Ricci ruffled dress PinkPantheress, 25, won her first MTV VMA for Best Art Direction for her hit track, Stateside, alongside Zara Larsson and director Charlotte Rutherford Emma was at the the ceremony to present Madonna with the Artist Of The Year gong. She took to the stage alongside Rachel Dratch Raye later took to the stage in a red lace dress which had a daring thigh-high slit Raye then changed into a plunging black gown to join Teddy Swims, Sombr, and Adam Lambert for a special tribute to George MichaelSienna made her VMA performance debut in a custom silver minidress by Agro Studio which was inspired by Paco Rabanne's 1967 creation The singer took home the coveted Best New Artist award over nominees like Bella Kay and Magnus FerrellDuring the ceremony, Taylor Swift paid tribute to the 'ultimate showgirl' Dolly Parton as she accepted a prize at the MTV VMAs.The singer took home the show's first-ever Artist Director Honors – which preceded a screening of her new video for Patient Zero – and she went on to pick up the Video of the Year prize for The Fate of Ophelia and Best Direction for Opalite.After picking up the Video of the Year award, Taylor dedicated the prize to late country icon Dolly, who died in August at the age of 80. Taylor said: 'I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person without whom this wouldn't be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton.'Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich. Listening to her songs, it's like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she's written.'And she handled this thing with such grace and joy and love and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this, and everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans.'I am lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them. I think that we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time. And thank you for this amazing moment, I love you all.'During the ceremony, Taylor was given a gushing introduction by her Patient Zero co-star Dakota Johnson and the singer then gave a speech in which she talked about her love of directing after stepping behind the camera to take charge of 18 of her own music videos.She said: 'I got to tell you, though, the main reason why I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much fun.'You make it so rewarding! Because you actually care about what we're making.'I want to say thank you to everyone who ever worked on a music video that I got to be a part of. I learned something from every single person who worked alongside me on these projects.'Mainly, I want to say thank you to the fans, and rather than say anything else... I would love to, if it's okay with you, show you my latest music video.'The MTV VMAs also featured a Dolly Parton tribute delivered by Kacey Musgraves, who performed the singer's classic hit I Will Always Love You.The performance was introduced by Dolly herself as a video played to the audience showed the late singer handing out some words of wisdom, saying: 'I'd like to leave you fellas with a little bit of advice.'Don't criticize your wife's judgment. You just remember who she married. Just kidding you. There's a lot of truth in that and I would also like to say about life, I hope it treats you real kind and I hope that you have all that you ever dreamed of.'Dolly was then heard starting off the track before Kacey joined in.The ceremony also featured a tribute to grunge icons Nirvana, who were honoured with the Video Vanguard Award. Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear accepted the award and Novoselic remembered the band's late frontman Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994.He said: 'The ideas for those videos all grew out of the vision of one of the greatest artists of all time, Kurt Cobain.'Kurt was one of one. None of us could have imagined that our band, our sound or our aesthetic would mean so much to so many people. But ultimately, the music had a life of its own. It charted its own course.'Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity, something real, something uncompromising, something that tells you it's just OK to come as you are. Kurt would have loved that legacy.'Other winners on the night included Madonna, who opened the show and led with 13 nominations. The pop superstar saw off competition from Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift to win the Artist of the Year prize and she also landed Best Collaboration for her track with Sabrina Carpenter, Bring Your Love, as well as Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film.Song of the Year went to BTS for Swim, Lisa won Best Pop for Dream, Best Hip-Hop went to Cardi B and Kehlani for Safe, Olivia Rodrigo's The Cure was named Best Alternative, Bad Bunny nabbed Best Latin for NUEVAYoL and Bruno Mars took the R&B prize for I Just Might.MTV Video Music Awards 2026 WINNERS VIDEO OF THE YEARAriana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars - I Just MightGener8ion (starring Yung Lean - StormMadonna - Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter - TearsTaylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia - WINNER Taylor Swift earned top honor Video of the Year to break an epic record ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonna - WINNERMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift SONG OF THE YEARBTS - Swim - WINNERElla Langley - Choosin' TexasHuntr/x - GoldenMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your LoveOlivia Dean - Man I NeedRaye - Where Is My HusbandBEST NEW ARTISTBella KayCortisMagnus FerrellMalcolm ToddMyles SmithSienna Spiro - WINNERStella Lefty British singer took home the coveted Best New Artist gongBEST COLLABORATIONClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & WhipsFrench Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left MeMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiTeyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard PartBEST POPAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeCharli XCX – SS26Lisa – Dream - WINNEROlivia Rodrigo – Drop DeadSabrina Carpenter – House TourTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST HIP-HOPCardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe - WINNERDon Toliver – E85Drake – Janice STFUMegan Thee Stallion – Lover GirlTravis Scott – DumboTyler, The Creator – Sugar on My TongueBEST R&BBruno Mars – I Just Might - WINNERChris Brown – It Depends/ObviousDave & Tems – RaindanceJustin Bieber – YukonKehlani – FoldedMariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a CrimeBEST ALTERNATIVEGeese – TaxesMGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur FaceNoah Kahan – The Great DivideOlivia Rodrigo – The Cure - WINNERSombr – HomewreckerTame Impala – DraculaTwenty One Pilots – Drag PathBEST DANCEBebe Rexha and Faithless – New ReligionHarry Styles – ApertureLady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSlayyyter – Dance...Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl BEST LATINAnitta and Shakira – Choka ChokaBad Bunny – NUEVAYoL - WINNERFuerza Regida – Tu SanchoKarol G – PapasitoRosalía – La PerlaRyan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La VillaShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiBEST K-POPBlackpink – JumpBTS – Swim - WINNERCortis – RedredKatseye – Pinky UpLe Sserafim – SpaghettiLisa – Dream BEST COUNTRYElla Langley – Choosin’ Texas - WINNERKacey Musgraves – Dry SpellLainey Wilson – Somewhere over LaredoLuke Combs – Back in the SaddleShaboozey – CowgirlStella Lefty – BostonTucker Wetmore – BrunetteBEST DIRECTIONAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love meBruno Mars – I Just MightGener8ion – StormMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – Opalite - WINNERBEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeA$AP Rocky – Punk RockyLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERShaboozey – CowgirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Madonna dominated as she earned the most wins with seven BEST EDITINGAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour - WINNERTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Sabrina took home Best Editing for House Tour as she accepted Best Collaboration with MadonnaBEST CHOREOGRAPHYGener8ion – StormHarry Styles – Dance No MoreKatseye – Pinky UpMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)n - WINNERTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me - WINNERJisoo and Zayn – Eyes ClosedMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideRaye – Click Clack SymphonyTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST ART DIRECTIONCharli XCX – SS26Lady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside - WINNERSombr – My Body Isn’t ReadyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia PinkPantheress earned Best Art Direction alongside Zara Larsson for Stateside