The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Sunday, September 27, with a two‑hour broadcast on CBS at 7:30 p.m. Eastern (4:30 p.m. Pacific). The ceremony is held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marking the first time since 2017 that the VMAs have been staged outside New York or New Jersey. Viewers can also stream the event live on Paramount+ in the U.S. and worldwide the following day.
Taylor Swift is set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, a new award that acknowledges artists whose behind‑the‑camera work expands the possibilities of music video and advances visual storytelling. The honor will bring Swift’s total VMA wins to 31, making her the most awarded artist in VMA history. She will also debut the music video for her new single, “Patient Zero,” which she directed and features Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.
Madonna leads the nominations with 11 awards, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best Collaboration, among others. She has 19 competitive VMA wins and was the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986. The pop icon will open the show, marking her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years.
Other performers include Kacey Musgraves, who will pay homage to Dolly Parton; Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims, who will honor George Michael; and acts such as GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, Lisa, and Sienna Spiro.
Snoop Dogg will host the ceremony, returning to the stage for the first time since 1994. Presenters will include Alex Warren, Charli XCX, Teyana Taylor, and Troye Sivan, among others.
