Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-27 · by Maria Sherman The Associated Press
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are set for Sunday, September 27, from Los Angeles, marking Taylor Swift’s historic achievement as she receives the inaugural Artist Director Honors and ties with Beyoncé at 31 VMAs. The show will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and broadcast live on CBS at 7:30 PM Eastern/4:30 PM Pacific; it will also stream on MTV and Paramount+. Madonna leads this year's nominations with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows closely with nine.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards Artist Director Honor at the 43rd annual ceremony on September 27, making it her 31st Moon Person trophy and officially breaking the tie with Beyoncé for most awards in VMA history. The event, hosted by Snoop Dogg, will also see the premiere of Swift's new music video for "Patient Zero" at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Madonna returns to perform after a 23-year hiatus and holds 11 nominations, followed closely by Taylor Swift with 11 nods herself. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS alongside MTV. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial to watch the VMAs live for free. This year’s show celebrates the best music videos of 2026, marking a significant milestone for both Madonna and Taylor Swift in terms of recognition and impact on the award show's legacy. Other notable performances include Sabrina Carpenter with nine nominations and Ariana Grande with eight. MTV also honors Nirvana with this year's Video Vanguard Award. The event features various categories such as Best Direction, Best Editing, and Best Choreography, among others, recognizing excellence in music video artistry and innovation. Madonna's appearance is set to open the show on September 27 at Peacock Theater. Madonna’s comeback performance is anticipated with special guests including Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter. MTV VMAs continue to celebrate iconic moments, performances, and innovations in music videos throughout the years. Swift's contribution includes a deluxe edition release titled "The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore," which debuted alongside “Patient Zero,” further cementing her creative influence on modern pop culture. DIRECTV provides a free trial for VMAs viewership starting September 27, ensuring widespread accessibility and engagement with the event. Overall, this year's MTV Video Music Awards are set to be a memorable celebration of music video artistry and fan community interactions. Madonna’s presence is marked by her historic contributions since the inaugural ceremony in 1984, signaling an era of continued innovation and cultural significance for the VMAs. Snoop Dogg, as host, brings his unique blend of entertainment, comedy, and musical prowess to the stage, promising a dynamic and engaging evening for all music lovers. The combination of Madonna’s comeback performance and Swift's historical award acceptance promises to make this year’s MTV Video Music Awards an unforgettable event in the annals of pop culture history. DirectTV's free trial offer enhances viewer accessibility, ensuring that fans can enjoy the full spectrum of performances, awards, and fan interactions live from Peacock Theater on CBS. The VMAs continue to celebrate creativity, innovation, and community engagement in music video artistry, making September 27 a highly anticipated date for music enthusiasts worldwide.
Written for “MTV Video Music Awards 2026” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 50 other(s) covering the same event.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are here and Swifties, it looks like the night is already yours.
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night → look → ?
Earlier this week it was announced that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.
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Swift → announce → history
Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history.
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Swift → tie → history
They have 30 each.
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They → have → 30
The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognize artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” will bring her total to 31.
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work → accord → 31
She will also debut the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the award show.
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She → debut → show
Swift directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.
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which → direct → Farrell
“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.
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Zero → marry → July
Here’s what else to know ahead of Sunday night’s show.
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Here → ’ → show
How to watch the show
The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
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show → watch → Angeles
It is the first time since 2017 that the VMAs have picked a location that is not in New York or New Jersey.
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that → pick → York
The VMAs are also simulcast on MTV and be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
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VMAs → simulcast → U.S.
It will become available to stream globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
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It → become → Paramount+
Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, will host.
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Dogg → host → ?
Snoop made his debut on the VMAs stage in 1994.
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Snoop → make → 1994
He closed the show in 1999 with Dr. Dre and Eminem and returned for a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. and again for a performance with Eminem in 2022.
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He → close → 2022
Who’s nominated at the 2026 MTV VMAs
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nominated → nominate → VMAs
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations.
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Madonna → lead → nominations
The pop superstar has been nominated in every decade of her musical career.
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superstar → nominate → career
She has 19 competitive MTV VMA wins and in 1986 became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
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She → have → Award
She is up for 11 awards at this year’s ceremony, including video, artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
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She → include → cinematography
Taylor Swift follows with the second-most nominations with nine.
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Swift → follow → nine
Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each to their names, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five.
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Madonna → follow → five
Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.
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Shakira → have → three
Who’s performing at the 2026 MTV VMAs
Madonna will open the show.
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Madonna → perform → show
It will mark her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years.
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It → mark → years
Kacey Musgraves will pay homage to the late, great Dolly Parton.
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Musgraves → pay → Parton
The country music icon, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of cancer in August.
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vocals → define → August
Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day.
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who → pay → Day
It’s double duty for Raye, who also will perform solo.
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who → ’ → Raye
Other performers include GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, as well as Lisa and Sienna Spiro.
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performers → include → Gunna
Who’s presenting at the 2026 MTV VMAs
Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla and Troye Sivan will present.
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Warren → present → VMAs
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