The 2026 Video Music Awards will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27

NEED TO KNOW

• Snoop Dogg is returning to the VMAs stage to host the 2026 VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 27
• Madonna leads with 11 nominations, with Taylor Swift closely following with a total of nine nominations
• Performers include Lisa, RAYE, Madonna, Shaboozey, among others

The VMAs are back!

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are celebrating this year’s music, artists, and TV with special performances from Hollywood’s biggest names.

The VMAs will air live from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET (4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ Sunday, Sept. 27. The event will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s VMAs.

Who is hosting the 2026 Video Music Awards?

Snoop Dogg will host this year’s show, returning to the stage as a 13-time nominee and three-time winner. The 54-year-old rapper first won in 1994 for Best Rap Video, then in 2006 for Best Dance Video and most recently in 2015 for Best Art Direction.

In addition to taking home a few of his own awards, the rapper recently performed with Eminem in a first-of-its-kind performance inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse. He also performed a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. in 2005. He also famously closed out the 1999 VMAs with Dr. Dre and Eminem, according to a press release. 

“Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV—they gave hip hop a place to be loud, fearless and seen by the whole world,” he continued. “So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me.”

Who is nominated at the 2026 VMAs?

Madonna leads the group with 11 nominations, while Taylor Swift follows closely behind with nine, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each.

Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson earned five nominations, while LISA earned four, and Shakira and Tate McRae earned three.

Madonna, 68, Swift, 36, Grande, 33, Carpenter, 27, Mars, 40, and GENER8ION were all nominated for the coveted Video of the Year award. The latter was also a first-time nominee, alongside fellow first-timers Yung Lean, CORTIS, Stella Lefty, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro and Tucker Wetmore.

Who is performing at the 2026 VMAs?

Madonna will open the 2026 VMAs with her first live performance at the show in 23 years. Fans can expect performances from Lisa, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey, GENER8ION, Gunna and Yung Lean.

Lisa, 29, will perform her new single “SaWaDiKa” from her upcoming PRESS PLAY EP, which comes out on Friday, Oct. 23, for the first time live on TV. RAYE, 28, will make her VMAs performance debut at the ceremony, as will Spiro.

Shaboozey, 31, will also make his VMAs performance debut with “Cowgirl,” while he’ll also perform “High Noon” with Gunna, 33, for the song’s first broadcast performance. GENER8ION and Yung Lean, 33, will both take the stage for the first time at the awards show for the world premiere of their song “STORM II.”

Who is presenting at the 2026 VMAs?

The show’s presenters will feature a few favorite TV stars, including Survivor host Jeff Probst, Dancing with the Stars contestant Ciara Miller and Off Campus stars Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright. Other presenters include Superman star David Corenswet, Scream 7 actress Isabel May and Loves Company star Rachel Dratch.

More presenters include musicians Alex Warren, Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, Tyla and Troye Sivan.

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Who will be honored at the 2026 VMAs?

Swift will receive the first-ever Artist Director Honors, which is “a new award recognizing groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” according to the press release.

Nirvana will receive the coveted Video Vanguard Award, honoring Nirvana’s lasting influence on music, culture and MTV itself. The band joins the likes of 2025 recipient Mariah Carey, 2024 recipient Katy Perry, 2023 recipient Shakira and 2022 recipient Nicki Minaj. 

How can I watch the 2026 VMAs?

The 2026 Video Music Awards will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27.

No preshow will air this year.

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