The 1986 VMAs was broadcast live from New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, and New Haven, Connecticut and was hosted by five of MTV’s top VJs: "Downtown" Julie Brown, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn & Dweezil Zappa. Though ambitious it wasn’t the greatest of shows put up by MTV as viewers saw VJ’s miss cues, turn to the wrong cameras and look flabbergasted at times. When it finally came to the awards, Norwegian pop group a-ha walked away with seven ‘Moonmen’. "Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits took home the award for “Video of the Year”.
The performances included, "West End Girls" by The Pet Shop Boys and "Typical Male" by Tina Turner. The show also featured performances by INXS and ‘til Tuesday. Not everything at the 3rd MTV VMAs went according to plan, yet the hosts and everyone at MTV managed to pull of one of the most daring VMAs ever.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1986
Video of the Year
- Dire Straits Money For Nothing
- a-ha - Take On Me
- Godley & Creme - Cry
- Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
- Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere
Best Male Video
- Robert Palmer Addicted To Love
- Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
- Phil Collins - Take Me Home
- Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
- Sting - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Best Female Video
- Whitney Houston How Will I Know
- Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill
- Aretha Franklin - Freeway of Love
- Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm
- Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero
Best Group Video
- Dire Straits Money For Nothing
- a-ha - Take On Me
- INXS - What You Need
- The Rolling Stones - The Harlem Shuffle
- Talking Heads - And She Was
Viewer's Choice
- a-ha Take On Me
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- Godley & Creme - Cry
- Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
- Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere
Best New Artist
- a-ha Take On Me
- The Hooters - And We Danced
- Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
- Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
- Simply Red - Holding Back The Years
Best Concept Video
- a-ha Take On Me
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- Godley & Creme - Cry
- Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere
- Talking Heads - And She Was
Best Stage Performance
- Bryan Adams & Tina Turner
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- Huey Lewis & the News - The Power Of Love
- Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
- Pete Townshend - Face The Face
Best Overall Performance
- David Bowie & Mick Jagger Dancing In The Streets
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
- Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
- Sting - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Most Experimental Video
- a-ha Take On Me
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- X - Burning House Of Love
- ZZ Top - Rough Boy
Best Direction
- a-ha Take On Me
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- X - Burning House Of Love
- ZZ Top - Rough Boy
Best Choreography
- Prince & the Revolution
- Pat Benatar - Sex as a Weapon
- Morris Day - Oak Tree
- Madonna - Dress You Up
- Madonna - Like A Virgin
Best Special Effects
- a-ha Take On Me
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- X - Burning House Of Love
- ZZ Top - Rough Boy
Best Art Direction
- ZZ Top Rough Boy
- a-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- Honeymoon Suite - Feel It Again
- a-ha The Sun Always Shines On TV
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- X - Burning House Of Love
- ZZ Top - Rough Boy
Best Cinematography
- a-ha The Sun Always Shines On TV
- Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
- Joe Walsh - The Confessor
- X - Burning House Of Love
- ZZ Top - Rough Boy