How To Watch & Stream The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards — SkimNews
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- Madonna leads the 2026 VMAs with 13 nominations, tying Lady Gaga's 2010 record for most nominations in a single year, followed by Taylor Swift (11), Sabrina Carpenter (9) and Ariana Grande (8).
- Snoop Dogg, a 3x VMA winner, hosts the ceremony live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 7:30-9:30pm ET, simulcast on CBS and MTV and streaming on Paramount+ Premium in the US, with global availability on Paramount+ and MTV the next day.
- Madonna opens the show — her first VMA performance in 23 years — with songs from Confessions II, presented by Spotify.
- Nirvana receives the Video Vanguard Award, and Taylor Swift receives the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, with her "Patient Zero" music video from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore world-premiering during the broadcast.
- Kacey Musgraves performs a tribute to Dolly Parton following Parton's death at age 80 last month, while Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims team up for a tribute performance directed by Adam Blackstone celebrating 40 years since George Michael's Faith album.
- Presenters include David Corenswet, Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, Tyla, Alex Warren, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch and others spanning nominees, past winners, a Saturday Night Live alum and a reality-TV host.
Why it matters: Madonna ties Lady Gaga's 2010 single-year nominations record of 13 while making her first VMA stage appearance in 23 years, a dual milestone at the 42nd show. The ceremony also debuts the inaugural Artist Director Honors for Taylor Swift and includes posthumous tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael, signaling the VMAs' continued pivot toward legacy recognition alongside current-year competition.
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