What happened in this Culture story?

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards air Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg, with Madonna leading nominations at 13 and Taylor Swift set to receive the Artist Director Honor.

What is a key fact in this story? (1)

**The 2026 VMAs** premiere Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg and expected to run approximately two hours through 9:30 p.m. ET.

What is a key fact in this story? (2)

**Madonna** leads the 2026 VMA nominations with 13 nods, including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year; Taylor Swift earned 11 nominations and Sabrina Carpenter received 9.

How to Stream the 2026 VMAs Free Without Cable — SkimNews

By Rolling Stone · Summarized & edited by Kapil Samant · 2026-09-27

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The 2026 VMAs premiere Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg and expected to run approximately two hours through 9:30 p.m. ET.
Madonna leads the 2026 VMA nominations with 13 nods, including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year; Taylor Swift earned 11 nominations and Sabrina Carpenter received 9.
Cord-cutters can stream the ceremony free via five-day trials to DirecTV or Fubo, through Hulu + Live TV, or via Paramount+ accessed through a Walmart+ membership trial.
Taylor Swift receives the Artist Director Honor and will premiere the music video for "Patient Zero" — a track from the expanded edition of The Life of a Showgirl — starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
Kacey Musgraves is scheduled to lead a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died in August, with a separate tribute planned for George Michael ahead of the Dec. 11 release of "George Michael: The Faith Tour."
Madonna is also set to perform during the ceremony, alongside Lisa of Blackpink, Kacey Musgraves, Shaboozey, and other artists.

Why it matters: Cord-cutters gain a free viewing path through short trials to DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or Paramount+ via Walmart+, while CBS and MTV capture ratings built around Madonna's 13 nominations and Taylor Swift's exclusive "Patient Zero" music video premiere with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.