Taylor Swift is set to premiere the music video for her upcoming single ‘Patient Zero’ at the MTV VMAs 2026 this weekend. Watch the preview below.
The pop giant will release the song tomorrow (Friday September 25) as part of an extended ‘Encore’ edition of her latest album, 2025’s ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’.
Today (Thursday September 24) Swift shared a snippet of the dramatic visuals for the track, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. We see the singer standing over a bathroom sink in the clip, as well as appearing in a scene with the two actors.
Elsewhere, two grieving characters lay a black rose at the gravestone of a loved one who’s “gone too soon”. Farrell later walks from his car, before Johnson looks distressed in what appears to be a party setting. Another shot finds the pair in a tense moment while Swift watches on.
Swift directed the music video herself, with cinematography by Academy Award-winner Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant, Birdman, Gravity).
The star has announced that the full visuals will debut at this Sunday’s (September 27) VMAs, where she’ll receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
This year’s ceremony is scheduled to simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ (Premium) in the US. It’ll also be available globally the next day (Monday September 28) on Paramount+ and MTV.
According to People, Dakota Johnson attended Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York City this summer.
Swift has self-directed numerous past music videos, including for the singles ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’, ‘Fortnight’, ‘Anti-Hero’ and ‘Cardigan’.
She wrote and directed 2021’s All Too Well: The Short Film, too, starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. The clip won the awards for Best Longform Video, Best Direction and Video Of The Year at the 2022 VMAs.
