Madonna is back on the VMAs stage for the first time in over two decades, and this year’s MTV Video Music Awards are packed with star power beyond her return. The show airs Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on CBS television stations and MTV, with streaming on Paramount+. It is the first time the awards have returned to the West Coast since 2017, held at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Madonna’s Long-Awaited Return
Madonna last performed at the VMAs in August 2003, when George W. Bush was president, the U.S. was five months into the Iraq War, and Mark Zuckerberg was a few months away from launching what’s now known as Facebook. Now 68, she opens the show with a performance and is up for 13 awards, the most of any nominee of the night. If she sweeps all 13, her career total jumps to 33.
She arrives with 20 career wins already.
Swift’s Artist Director Honors
Taylor Swift is receiving the VMAs’ first-ever Artist Director Honors, an accolade organizers described as recognizing artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.” The award guarantees that Swift, who is also nominated in 11 categories, becomes the show’s most-awarded artist.
Neither Swift nor Beyoncé added to their totals in 2025, so the two remain tied at 30 Moon Persons each as of 2024. Swift breaks that tie with this honor. She will also debut her new “Patient Zero” music video at the ceremony.
Nirvana Takes the Vanguard Award
Nirvana is this year’s Video Vanguard Award recipient.
The Host and the Red Carpet
Snoop Dogg is hosting the show. The rapper, known for hits like “Beautiful,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin and Juice,” first performed at the VMAs in 1994 and has won three times during his career. The red carpet coverage streams live on CBS News Los Angeles starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
Performers Lineup
The full lineup includes:
- GENER8ION
- Gunna
- LISA
- Madonna
- Kacey Musgraves
- RAYE
- Shaboozey
- Sienna Spiro
- Sombr
- Teddy Swims
- Yung Lean
Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton. LISA, a member of Blackpink and a four-time nominee, performs her new single “SaWaDiKa.” GENER8ION and Yung Lean, whose song “Storm” is up for four awards, premiere “Storm II.” Singer-songwriter Sombr, nominated in three categories, joins RAYE and Teddy Swims in a tribute to George Michael, who died in 2016.
Shaboozey performs “Cowgirl,” which received two nominations, and joins Gunna for their collaboration “High Noon.” Best new artist nominee Sienna Spiro also takes the stage.
Presenters and Voting
The presenters 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 and Tyla. Fan voting for best new artist and song of the summer remains open, with song of the summer voting on MTV’s Instagram Stories until 11 a.m. ET Sunday.
Winners From Last Year
The 2025 VMAs were held at New York’s UBS Arena on Long Island. Ariana Grande took Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead,” while Artist of the Year went to Lady Gaga. Song of the Year went to Rosé and Bruno Mars for “APT.” Best New Artist went to Alex Warren, and the show also crowned Blackpink as Best Group.
“whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.”
How to Watch
The show streams on Paramount+, airs on CBS television stations and MTV, and the red carpet streams live on CBS News Los Angeles. Fan voting for best new artist and song of the summer remains open after the show starts.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The 2026 VMAs mark a return to the West Coast for the first time since 2017, and the Peacock Theater, which last hosted the show in 2015 when it was known as the Microsoft Theater, seats 7,100.
What to Expect
Madonna’s performance is the marquee event, but the tribute to George Michael, the Dolly Parton tribute, and the premiere of “Patient Zero” all carry weight on their own. The show’s return to Los Angeles adds a geographical shift to the mix. The Peacock Theater, which last hosted the VMAs in 2015, offers a different backdrop for the usual spectacle.
The lineup mixes established names with newer acts. GENER8ION and Yung Lean are among the newer acts on the bill.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards run Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.
Source material: “Madonna's at the MTV VMAs tonight. Here's what to know about this year's show.,” CBS News.
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