MTV VMAs 2026: Taylor Swift premieres Patient Zero video, receives new director award from Dakota Johnson

At the 2026 MTV VMAs, Taylor Swift premiered the music video for her new single "Patient Zero." The video, which features Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, premiered on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Swift also received an unprecedented award at the show - the VMAs' first-ever artist-director accolade. Dakota Johnson, Swift's close friend and co-star in the video, presented the trophy to the pop star and praised her as a born storyteller and one of the most decorated artists in VMA history.

Johnson noted that Swift is a visionary with an unwavering drive for perfection and the ability to maintain the magic at the heart of her work. In her acceptance speech, Swift expressed her gratitude to the fans for making the process of creating music videos so rewarding. She thanked everyone who had worked on the videos she had been a part of and emphasized that the fans' passion and care made the experience truly remarkable.