The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were full of appearances by legendary artists as well as new breakout stars, and Gold Derby was on the teal carpet and inside the Peacock Theater watching all of them meet, mingle, and run to their seats ahead of the evening’s biggest awards.

Here’s what you didn’t see during last night’s broadcast.

The rush to get hundreds of celebrities (and influencers grabbing content) seated ahead of the show’s start was hectic. But the chaos leveled up when, after a quick introduction to the night’s proceedings by host Snoop Dogg, Madonna took to the stage. The pop icon, who won a leading seven Moon Persons during the ceremony, blasted through a high-energy performance with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx that got Bebe Rexha, Troye Sivan, and his collaborator Leland, as well as reality TV favorites Lisa Rinna and Harry Jowsey, on their feet. It was the only moment all evening where Gold Derby witnessed the entire crowd standing and dancing.

The first few commercial breaks were whirlwinds, providing minimal time for celebrities to greet each other before being yelled at to return to their seats. Still, Rinna managed to corral Sivan, Leland, and Rexha into a conversation full of excitable hand gestures. Sombr, fresh from his cameo in Madonna’s performance, cut a tall figure through the audience while making eye contact with fans, and the crowd parted to let him get back to his seat. No one bothered Emily Ratajkowski as she rushed to the backstage entrance. She was latterspotted in the audience speaking animatedly with Charli xcx.

One Battle After Another Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor managed the quickest walk in heels we’ve ever seen as she hurried back to her seat after presenting Blackpink member Lisa with the Best Pop Video honor. The biggest lull of the evening, lasting at least 30 minutes, occurred during Kacey Musgrave’s prerecorded tribute to Dolly Party played, although the audience was lit in a shade of pink Dolly would’ve been proud of. Bruno Mars’ pretaped performance from his Romantic Tour was also low-energy in the room, but Paris and Nicky Hilton were on their feet through all of it (and most of the show).

Taylor Swift’s first entrance caused so much commotion that we thought there might be an emergency in the auditorium. A sudden roar rose up from the crowd, and the fans lining the multiple side-stages all whipped around to watch Swift head to her seat. She smiled and waved, and even stopped to give Madonna a big hug. She also greeted Paris Hilton as Off Campus star Ella Bright looked on adoringly (Bright’s a self-confessed uber-Swiftie). Despite the adoration, Swift’s acceptance speech for the inaugural Artist Director Honors only got about half the seated guests to stand. The debut of her "Patient Zero" music video also had celebrity attendees taking their seats, although some fans sang along while Swift lingered on stage to watch alongside her pal and the video's star, Dakota Johnson.

A common theme of the evening was confusion: Performers and presenters seemed to have few cues about where to go once they were done on stage. Shaboozey, fresh off his performance of "High Noon" with rapper Gunna, popped out of the backstage entrance and confidently headed up the aisle by Gold Derby’s seat before being gently rebuked by security. Spice Girls alum Emma Bunton held tight to a girlfriend’s hand after presenting Artist of the Year to Madonna, and a gaggle of blonds she seemed to know all navigated the throngs of people during commercial breaks together.

Lisa Rinna managed to get Nirvana and Foo Fighters member Pat Smear to stop for a quick hello after Nirvana’s Video Vanguard Award acceptance. The reality TV icon even bowed to Smear, who smiled but looked overall slightly confused by the interaction. Meanwhile, controversial newcomer Stella Lefty walked up and down the aisles mingling with a few industry folks during the commercial breaks, although she seemed to be seated further back than most of the artists in attendance.

Swift’s final entrance to the audience was minutes before the evening’s last category, Video of the Year, and Gold Derby overheard a wry, "Gee, wonder who’s winning?" from an audience member. Swift briefly grasped Bright’s hand this time before settling down, which got a glowing smile out of the actress. Sure enough, Swift’s name was called out by Snoop Dogg, and as she took to the stage to accept the award for her chart-topping song "The Fate of Ophelia," the star attendees started to exit in droves.