Madonna reclaimed her throne at the MTV VMAs tonight by performing at the ceremony for the first time in 23 years. She opened the show with a little help from Sabrina Carpenter, alongside bondage dancers acting as steadicam operators, for the duo’s single “Bring Your Love.” Later, Charli XCX walked out of a bathroom stall to perform “Danceteria Afterhours,” the just-released remix to Madonna’s Confessions II track “Danceteria.” There were also cameos from Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, Sombr, and Seth Rogen smoking a joint.
Madonna’s Opening Medley
Carpenter and the bondage dancers served as steadicam operators during Madonna’s opening set. They held cameras steady as Madonna and Carpenter performed their new single, creating a striking visual.
Madonna’s opening set featured a striking visual: the bondage dancers themselves, acting as steadicam operators, held cameras steady as Madonna and Carpenter performed their new single. Carpenter’s presence on stage alongside Madonna was a notable part of the performance.
Among the guests who made brief appearances were Garner, Mazar, Sombr, and Rogen, whose presence added an element of surprise to what was already a theatrical start.
Charli XCX’s Bathroom Stall Surprise
Charli XCX emerged from a bathroom stall to perform “Danceteria Afterhours.” The remix to Madonna’s Confessions II track “Danceteria” was released as part of the performance, giving fans a fresh version of the song.
The setup was plain yet successful. XCX emerged from the stall, and the performance was well received.
Carpenter Wins a Moon Man With Madonna
Later in the evening, Madonna and Carpenter won a Moon Man for Best Collaboration. “I would like to briefly say how this collaboration came about,” Madge said during her speech. “Anybody who knows me knows how impatient I am, and when five days passed and I still didn’t get connected to Sabrina or hear back whether she wanted to do a song with me, I DM’d her. she answered, and within weeks we were in the studio together.”
Later, Madonna added that she and Carpenter “write our lyrics down on pieces of paper like they did in the 1800s.”.
The Nominations Behind the Show
At this year’s MTV VMAs, Madonna leads all artists with the most nominations. She picked up 13, among which are Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Album, thanks to her recent album, Confessions II.
Madonna has topped the VMA nominations three times, and she did it again now. Nine nods came her way for “Ray of Light” and “Frozen”, which arrived in 1998. The previous year brought nine more, for “Vogue”, which was released in 1990.
A Long History of Opening the Show
The VMAs have a long history of Madonna opening the show, and tonight’s performance continues that tradition. Her 2003 appearance with Spears and Aguilera remains one of the most memorable moments in VMA history.
At the awards show held in 1990, Madonna performed “Vogue”, dressed in an 18th century French-inspired costume. Earlier, she had opened the very first VMAs in 1984, singing “Like a Virgin.”.
The Cameos That Defined the Night
The cameo sequence gave the show an element of surprise. Garner, Mazar, Sombr, and Rogen all made appearances during the performance, with Rogen smoking a joint.
Key Facts Box
- First time Madonna has opened a VMAs ceremony in 23 years
- Sabrina Carpenter joined Madonna on stage for “Bring Your Love”
- Charli XCX performed “Danceteria Afterhours”
- Madonna and Carpenter won a Moon Man for Best Collaboration
- Madonna earned 13 nominations this year
- Madonna has led VMA nominations three times
Final Thoughts
The pop icon’s return to the VMAs stage was a success, with energetic performances and unexpected cameos. The win for Best Collaboration capped a strong night for her.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will be remembered for Madonna’s return to the opening slot, and for the collaborations that defined her night. The performances by Carpenter and XCX were standout moments, while the cameos brought an element of unpredictability to the show.
Madonna’s return to the VMAs stage after an absence of 23 years delivered a spectacle worthy of the wait. The last time she opened the show was in 2003, when she performed a medley with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, an appearance that is still remembered for the moment the two singers locked lips onstage.
That night is now part of the history books.
See the video the story is built around at Pitchfork.
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