BTS and BLACKPINK’s Lisa Win Side by Side at the 2026 MTV VMAs, Elevating K-pop’s Global Profile

BTS and BLACKPINK’s Lisa each took home a trophy at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (2026 MTV VMAs), once again highlighting K-pop’s global presence. BTS won all three categories in which they were nominated—Song of the Year, Best K-pop, and Best Group—making them three-time winners at the ceremony. Lisa won the Best Pop award for her solo song “Dream.”

At the ceremony, held on the 27th (local time) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, BTS was named the winner of Song of the Year for “SWIM,” the title track of their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” It was BTS’s first VMA win in the category and marked the first time a K-pop group had received the award. “SWIM” competed against nominated tracks including “Golden,” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack, and took home the trophy.

The Best Group award marked BTS’s fifth win in the category. After winning it for four consecutive years from 2019 through 2022, BTS added another trophy this year and extended their record for the most wins by an act. They also won Best K-pop, sweeping all three categories. Unable to attend the ceremony, BTS thanked ARMY through their agency, saying, “To us, ‘ARIRANG’ is an album that represents a new beginning.” They added, “We were able to receive the great honor of Song of the Year with ‘SWIM’ thanks to everyone who loves our music,” and promised to continue sharing great music and performances together as all seven members.

Lisa won Best Pop for her single “Dream.” According to multiple reports, she is the first solo artist from Asia to win the category. As an Asian artist, BTS previously won the award in 2020. When her name was announced, Lisa shed tears of emotion and thanked the staff who worked with her on the song, as well as those who inspired her, saying, “Thank you for giving me this incredible award.” She also expressed her gratitude to her fans and shared the significance of the win with them.

Following her win, Lisa delivered the first televised performance of her new song “SaWaDiKa.” The stage incorporated a tuk-tuk, a mode of transportation in Thailand, along with a backdrop evoking Thailand’s urban landscape. She gave a powerful performance featuring intense rap, choreography, and a dance break. After taking home a major-category trophy for “Dream” and performing “SaWaDiKa,” Lisa made a strong impression at this year’s VMAs through both her win and her performance. The achievements of BTS and Lisa reaffirmed K-pop’s competitiveness across a range of categories at this year’s ceremony.