Taylor Swift shows off VERY tiny waist in sexy black gown with silver skirt as she hits 2026 MTV VMAs red carpet without Travis Kelce... ahead of her big award

Taylor Swift made her hotly anticipated arrival at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night - but her new husband Travis Kelce was nowhere to be found.Despite riding solo, the 36-year-old Grammy winner, who received a special, first-ever honor, confidently hit the red carpet in a sexy two-toned gown.Swift's dress consisted of a black sleeveless bodice with a mesh back to highlight her enviably trim waist and a sparkly silver skirt that hung off her hips.The already statuesque pop star added inches to her 5 foot 10 inch frame with sky-high heels decked out with rhinestones.Swift appeared to debut shorter, wispier bangs, which she styled with sleek shoulder-length strands.As for accessories, Swift wore dangly earrings, her wedding band and her $550,000 engagement ring from Kelce, whom she wed in July after nearly three years of dating.Fans notably chanted 'Mrs. Kelce' once Swift was spotted making her way to the red carpet following the likes of Charli XCX, Tyla and Lisa Rinna. Taylor Swift made her hotly anticipated arrival at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night - but her new husband Travis Kelce was nowhere to be found Despite riding solo, the 36-year-old Grammy winner - who is set to receive a special, first-ever honor - confidently hit the red carpet in a sexy two-toned gownWhile Swift was working her angles on the red carpet, her husband was spotted across the country with his NFL team the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami, Florida, where they played a football game against the Miami Dolphins earlier in the day.Swift's appearance at this year's VMAs comes just days after the release of The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore, a surprise deluxe version of her 2025 album.The new record includes four new songs from Swift, including a love anthem to Kelce titled Cleveland - a nod to his Ohio hometown - that critics dubbed a 'dud' despite the sentimental lyrics.The other three tracks - Pink Clouding, Babylon and Patient Zero - also failed to impress the critics, as well as many of Swift's diehard fans.Currently The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore has an abysmal score of 39 on Metacritic, which means it has received 'generally unfavorable reviews.' Swift had announced the album just days before its release, telling fans that she wrote the songs 'out of pure gratitude' for her fans' exuberance for and celebration of' The Life Of A Showgirl, which was released on Kelce's birthday on October 3, 2025.'About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind… You gave The Life of a Showgirl the biggest first week for an album in history,' she wrote of it success in a Tuesday Instagram post.'I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs.'I hope you love them, because they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made. The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore including four new songs is out on Friday and available to pre-order and save now,' concluded Swift, who released the Encoure song Patient Zero as her latest single.The music video for the track premiered at Sunday night's VMAs after Swift accepted the inaugural Artist Director Honors. Swift's dress had a black sleeveless bodice with a mesh back to highlight her enviably trim waist The lower half of Swift's gown had a sparkly silver skirt that hung off her hipsShe showed off her VMAs look from all angles during her red carpet stint As for accessories, Swift wore dangly earrings, her wedding band and her $550,000 engagement ring from Kelce, whom she wed in July after nearly three years of dating The Life Of A Showgirl singer debuted shorter, wispier bangs, which she styled with sleek shoulder-length strands The already statuesque pop star's tall rhinestone heels were hidden beneath her gown's skirt Swift opted for a natural glam makeup look - drifting away from her signature red lip Fans notably chanted 'Mrs. Kelce' once Swift was spotted making her way to the red carpet following the likes of Charli XCX, Tyla and Lisa Rinna Swift's appearance at this year's VMAs comes just days after the release of The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore, a surprise deluxe version of her 2025 album While Swift was working her angles on the red carpet, her husband was spotted across the country with his NFL team the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami, Florida, where they played a football game against the Miami Dolphins earlier in the dayWith the crowning achievement, Swift broke her tie with Beyonce, 44, as the most decorated artists of the VMAs, as they each came into Sunday's event with 30 gongs to their name.Inasmuch as Beyonce has no nominations this year, Swift became the sole reigning record-holder.The MTV VMA Artist Director Honors celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.Swift has utilized music videos as an extension of her songwriting as she has directed the visuals for her tracks: The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, The Man, cardigan, willow, All Too Well: The Short Film, Anti-Hero, Bejeweled, Fortnight (feat. Post Malone), I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault), Karma (feat. Ice Spice) and Lavender Haze.'I've gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos roughly,' Swift said of her 20-year career while accepting her gold Moonperson on Sunday night.She noted that she directed and wrote 18 out of the 60 music videos she's created, noting that she loves 'writing and directing music videos so much is because you the fans make it so much fun.'Meanwhile, nominations were unveiled last month as it was Madonna who emerged as the artist with the most nods.Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Swift, who has nods in nine categories.They will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II (The Film). No doubt diehard Swifties will be watching the event with plenty of scrutiny as she released deluxe album The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore along with new single Patient Zero on Friday Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Swift, who has nods in nine categories; seen in June They will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia (pictured) and Madonna for Confessions II - The Film Confessions II (The Film) is in the running to win best best direction, best cinematography, best visual effects, best editing, best choreography, best art direction and moreRounding out the category are the music videos for Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande, Tears by Sabrina Carpenter, I Just Might by Bruno Mars and Storm by GENER8ION (starring Yung Lean).Trailing Madonna and Swift, Grande and Carpenter are tied for third place with seven nominations apiece, while Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson each have five.The artist of the year category is a face-off between Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars and country music heartthrob Morgan Wallen.Best pop video has emerged as a contest between Grande's Hate That I Made You Love Me, Swift's The Fate of Ophelia and Tate McRae's Nobody's Girl, as well as Dream by the Blackpink breakout Lisa, SS26 by Charli XCX, Drop Dead by Olivia Rodrigo and House Tour by Carpenter.MTV Video Music Awards 2026 NOMINEES 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 ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonnaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift Madonna has the most nominations of the year with 11SONG OF THE YEARBTS - SwimElla 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 SpiroStella LeftyBEST COLLABORATIONClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & WhipsFrench Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left MeMadonna and Sabrina CarpenterPinkPantheress 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 – DreamOlivia Rodrigo – Drop DeadSabrina Carpenter – House TourTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Taylor Swift is trailing just behind the Queen of Pop with nine nods to her nameBEST HIP-HOPCardi B featuring Kehlani – SafeDon Toliver – E85Drake – Janice STFUMegan Thee Stallion – Lover GirlTravis Scott – DumboTyler, The Creator – Sugar on My TongueBEST R&BBruno Mars – I Just MightChris 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 CureSombr – HomewreckerTame Impala – DraculaTwenty One Pilots – Drag PathBEST DANCEBebe Rexha and Faithless – New ReligionHarry Styles – ApertureLady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSlayyyter – Dance...Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl BEST LATINAnitta and Shakira – Choka ChokaBad Bunny – NUEVAYoLFuerza Regida – Tu SanchoKarol G – PapasitoRosalía – La PerlaRyan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La VillaShakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai Ariana Grande has landed a total of seven nominationsBEST K-POPBlackpink – JumpBTS – SwimCortis – RedredKatseye – Pinky UpLe Sserafim – SpaghettiLisa – Dream BEST COUNTRYElla Langley – Choosin’ TexasKacey 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 Sabrina Carpenter is tied with Grande, having scored seven nodsBEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeA$AP Rocky – Punk RockyLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Shaboozey – CowgirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST EDITINGAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST CHOREOGRAPHYGener8ion – StormHarry Styles – Dance No MoreKatseye – Pinky UpMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Tate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeJisoo and Zayn – Eyes ClosedMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress 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 – StatesideSombr – My Body Isn’t ReadyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Swift has a chance this year to break her dead heat with Beyonce, with whom she is tied for most VMAs ever at 30