How To Watch The 2026 MTV VMAs
One of music's biggest nights of the year, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), will take place live on Sunday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Since 2018, the ceremony has been held in venues on the East Coast, including the Prudential Center in New Jersey and the UBS Arena in New York, but the event is finally returning to Los Angeles at the Peacock Theater. The West Coast award show will be hosted by rapper and entertainment legend Snoop Dogg for the very first time.
There are many new and veteran stars vying for a Moon Man at the 43rd annual VMA ceremony. Madonna has earned the most nominations this year in an impressive 13 categories. It is an especially big year for pop, as Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, and Olivia Rodrigo have earned some of the most nominations in the night's biggest categories. Nirvana will be receiving this year's Video Vanguard Award, which will be the first band in over 20 years to accept the honor. Taylor Swift is also slated to make VMA history as the first person to receive the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors in its inaugural debut, which will make her the show's most-awarded artist. While VMA presenters have not been confirmed ahead of Sunday's ceremony, there will be a swarm of stars in attendance, so expect to see at least one of the worst celeb beauty moments of 2026.
Fans will not want to miss the anticipated event, so here's where they can watch it. The 2026 VMAs will air on CBS and MTV. Premium subscribers can find it streaming live on Paramount+, where it will also be available to watch the following day, Monday, September 28. Other online options are any of the streaming services with CBS, including YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo.
Who is performing at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards?
The VMAs is slated to be an action-packed event with some of music's biggest stars taking the stage to showcase this year in music. Madonna is opening the 2026 VMAs, after opening the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show just months earlier. K-Pop star LISA will be performing her new single "SaWaDiKa" for the first time on television. Country star Kacey Musgraves will be delivering a tear-jerking tribute to the late and great Dolly Parton during the ceremony. There is also a planned George Michael tribute a decade after his passing, with stars RAYE, Sombr, and Teddy Swims paying tribute to the Wham! legend. Country singer Shaboozey will be performing two songs, "Cowgirl" and his new song "High Noon" with rapper Gunna.
Not every nominee is expected to be physically present at this year's ceremony. Harry Styles is not expected to attend due to tour conflicts, and Ariana Grande and Bad Bunny are likely to skip the event as well. Many fans will be disappointed that global powerhouse BTS also seems unlikely to make an appearance amid their sold-out world tour, despite being frontrunners nominated for Best Group, Song of the Year, and Best K-Pop.
While every award show has its absences, there is never a shortage of jaw-dropping moments and celebrity gossip to come out of each event. There will be red-carpet fashion hits and misses, controversial award wins and losses, and stunning performances by some of the world's biggest artists. As we look forward to the star-studded event, we wait to see who will follow the absolute worst-dressed stars at the 2025 VMAs and land on the list this year.