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.
Madonna is set to take the stage as a performer at the
for the first time in over 20 years today as she looks to add to her 20 career wins at the VMAs.
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she → set → VMAs
The awards show also brings a milestone for
, who will be given the VMAs' first-ever Artist Director Honors, which organizers said recognizes artists "whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.
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work → bring → storytelling
accolade guarantees that Swift, who's also nominated in 11 categories, will become the show's most-awarded artist, breaking the tie between her and Beyoncé, who each collected 30 Moon Persons
.
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who → guarantee → Persons
(Neither added to their total .)Swift
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Neither → add → total
What time do the 2026 VMAs start?
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VMAs → start → time
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, on Sunday, Sept. 27.
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show → start → Sunday
Who's hosting the 2026 VMAs?
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Who → host → VMAs
This year's show is being hosted by Snoop Dogg.
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show → host → Dogg
The rapper known for hits like "Beautiful," "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "Gin and Juice" is no stranger to the VMAs stage, having first performed at the show in 1994 and winning three times during his career.
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It → know → career
Where to watch the 2026 VMAs
The VMAs will be airing on CBS television stations (MTV.
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VMAs → watch → stations
The show will also be streaming on Paramount+.
) and onHow to watch the VMAs red carpet
See the stars arrive and check out the best looks from the red carpet in special coverage streaming live on CBS News Los Angeles starting at 6 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT, ahead of the VMAs.
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stars → stream → VMAs
Along with Madonna's highly anticipated return, the performances at this year's VMAs include a special tribute to
by Kacey Musgraves, who is nominated in the best country category.
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who → anticipate → category
Here's a list of the VMA performers announced so far, in alphabetical order:
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list → announce → order
When Madonna last performed at the VMAs
, George W. Bush was in the White House, 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.
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what → perform → Facebook
This year, a performance by the 68-year-old Queen of Pop will open the VMAs.
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performance → open → VMAs
If she sweeps all 13 categories, her career total will go up to 33.
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total → sweep → 33
LISA, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink and a four-time nominee this year, will be taking the stage to perform her new single "SaWaDiKa."
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LISA → take → single
First-time nominees GENER8ION and Swedish rapper Yung Lean, whose song "Storm" is up for four awards, will perform the world premiere of "Storm II."
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song → perform → Storm
Singer-songwriter Sombr, nominated in three categories, will join , whose hit "Where Is My Husband!" is up for song of the year, and in a tribute performance for , who died in 2016.
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who → nominate → 2016
The tribute comes nearly 40 years after the release of his first solo album, "Faith."
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tribute → come → album
Country and hip-hop artist
will sing "Cowgirl," which received two nominations.
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which → sing → nominations
He'll also join Gunna for their collaboration "High Noon.
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He → join → collaboration
"Best new artist nominee Sienna Spiro will also take the stage during the night.
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Spiro → take → night
The presenters announced for the show 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
uncertain
presenters → announce → show
Fan voting in most categories closed Friday, but fans can still cast ballots for best new artist and song of the summer.
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fans → close → summer
Voting for the summer's top tune will be happening on MTV's Instagram Stories until 11 a.m. ET Sunday.
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Voting → happen → ET
Fans can vote for best new artist online even after the show starts.
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show → vote → artist
Where are the 2026 VMAs being held?
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VMAs → hold → ?
The VMAs will be held at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, returning to the West Coast for the first time since 2017.
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VMAs → hold → 2017
The 7,100-seat theater last hosted the VMAs in 2015, when the venue was known as the Microsoft Theater.
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venue → host → Theater
Last year, the VMAs were held at New York's UBS Arena on Long Island.
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VMAs → hold → Island
Here's a rundown of the
:- 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
- MTV Push Performance of the Year: KATSEYE, "Touch"
- Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, "Die With a Smile"
- Best Pop: Ariana Grande, "Brighter Days Ahead"
- Best Hip-Hop: Doechii, "Anxiety"
- Best R&B: Mariah Carey, "Type Dangerous"
- Best Alternative: Sombr, "Back to Friends"
- Best Rock: Coldplay, "ALL MY LOVE"
- Best Latin: Shakira, "Soltera"
- Best K-Pop: LISA featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, "Born Again"
- Best Afrobeats: Tyla, "PUSH 2 START"
- Best Country: Megan Moroney, "Am I Okay?"
- Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter, "Short n' Sweet"
- Best Long Form Video: Ariana Grande, "Brighter Days Ahead"
- Video for Good: Charli xcx, "Guess featuring Billie Eilish"
- Best Group: Blackpink
- Song of Summer: Tate McRae, "Just Keep Watching"
- Best Direction: Lady Gaga, "Abracadabra"
- Best Art Direction: Lady Gaga, "Abracadabra"
- Best Cinematography: Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"
- Best Editing: Tate McRae, "Just Keep Watching"
- Best Choreography: Doechii, "Anxiety"
- Best Visual Effects: Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild"
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I → die → Us
The Aporia
