Madonna and Taylor Swift Headline 2026 MTV VMAs
Madonna is returning to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in over 20 years, aiming to increase her 20 career wins at the event. In addition, Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, celebrating her contributions to music video production and visual storytelling. Swift’s nominations in 11 categories suggest she will surpass Beyoncé as the show’s most-awarded artist, breaking their previous tie of 30 wins.
Swift will debut her new Patient Zero music video at the VMAs along with this achievement. Nirvana will be honored with the year’s Video Vanguard Award.
Event Details
The 2026 VMAs are scheduled to commence at 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, on Sunday, Sept. 27. Hosting duties will be performed by Snoop Dogg, a familiar face at the VMAs since his first performance in 1994. The VMAs will be broadcasted on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+. Red carpet coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT via CBS News Los Angeles.
Performers
Madonna will open the show, and the night’s performances will include a tribute to Dolly Parton by Kacey Musgraves. Other performers include:
- GENER8ION
- Gunna
- LISA
- Madonna
- Kacey Musgraves
- RAYE
- Shaboozey
- Sienna Spiro
- Sombr
- Teddy Swims
- Yung Lean
LISA will perform her new single, SaWaDiKa. First-time nominees GENER8ION and Yung Lean will premiere Storm II. Sombr, RAYE, and Teddy Swims will honor George Michael. Shaboozey will sing Cowgirl and join Gunna for High Noon. Sienna Spiro will also perform.
Presenters
The presenters for the 2026 VMAs include:
- Alex Warren
- Belmont Cameli
- Brandon Sklenar
- Charli xcx
- Ciara Miller
- David Corenswet
- Ella Bright
- Isabel May
- Jeff Probst
- Rachel Dratch
- Teyana Taylor
- Troye Sivan
- Tyla
Voting and Venue
Fans can vote for best new artist and song of the summer on MTV’s Instagram Stories until 11 a.m. ET Sunday. Voting for best new artist continues online even after the show begins.
The VMAs will occur at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, marking their return to the West Coast since 2017.
Recap of 2025 VMAs Winners
The previous year’s VMAs happened at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. Highlights include:
- Video of the Year: Ariana Grande, Brighter Days Ahead
- Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
- Song of the Year: Rosé and Bruno Mars, APT
- Best New Artist: Alex Warren
- Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Additional winners include Coldplay, Tate McRae, and Shakira across various categories.
The VMAs continue to be a celebration of musical achievements and visual artistry, with this year’s event promising to be memorable.