MTV is gearing up for the 43rd annual edition of its MTV Video Music Awards.
Some of the biggest acts in music will be competing to win the iconic Moon Person trophy, with Madonna leading the pack with 13 total nominations for her Confessions II album. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter and Bruno Mars have all scored multiple nominations as well.
The Artist of the Year category has the potential to propel Swift to the most VMA wins of all time — as she is currently tied with Beyoncé with 30 wins each. Swift faces stiff competition to win Artist of the Year from Grande, Mars, Madonna, Carpenter and country music superstar Morgan Wallen.
In September, CBS announced that Madonna will be opening the show, marking her live return to the VMAs stage for the first time in 23 years.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards:
When Are the 2026 VMAs?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, September 27, at 8 p.m. ET. Red carpet coverage will air earlier in the evening.
Where Are the 2026 VMAs?
After airing from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, in 2025, the MTV VMAs are headed out west this year as they take over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
How to Watch the 2026 VMAs
The 2026 MTV VMAs will be simulcast on CBS and MTV. The awards show will also stream live on Paramount+.
A replay of the MTV VMAs will be available the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
How to Vote for the 2026 VMAs
Fans can vote up to 10 times per category per day using the official VMAs website. Voting for most categories closes on Friday, September 25, at 5:59 p.m. ET. (The voting ends for Best New Artist immediately prior to the announcement of the winner on the MTV VMAs show.)
Song of Summer and Best Group will be decided via Instagram, with more details on how to vote to be announced soon.
Who Is Nominated at the 2026 VMAs?
Madonna leads this year’s MTV VMA nominees with 13 total nods overall, including Artist of the Year, Video of the Year and Best Dance for “Confessions II – The Film.” Taylor Swift follows in second place with 11 nominations for The Life of a Showgirl, ahead of Sabrina Carpenter with nine and Ariana Grande with eight.
Other artists with multiple nods include Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Lisa, Shakira, Tate McRae, Gener8ion and Yung Lean.
The Video of the Year category will pit Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film” against Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Just Might,” Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm, Carpenter’s “Tears” and Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Who Is Receiving the MTV Video Vanguard Award for 2026?
Grunge rock pioneers Nirvana have been chosen as the recipients of the MTV Video Vanguard Award for 2026 in honor of their impact on music and pop culture.
Nirvana made their debut on the MTV VMAs in 1992 with a raucous performance of their hit “Lithium.” The band won five VMAs throughout their career. (Singer Kurt Cobain died by suicide in April 1994.)
“This day in 1992, Nirvana took to the VMAs stage for the first time – shaping music, culture, and MTV forever. Nirvana is our 2026 #VMAs Video Vanguard recipient,” MTV announced on September 9.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
CBS announced on September 16 that Madonna, the most nominated artist of the night, will open the awards show. She will take the stage for her first live performance at the VMAs in 23 years. During the 2003 ceremony, the Queen of Pop famously kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
One day later, it was revealed that Gener8ion and Yung Lean will perform their song “Storm II” for the first time together at the VMAs. Blackpink’s Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey and Sienna Spiro will also take the stage. Shaboozey will be joined by Gunna to perform their collaboration “High Noon.”
Who Is Presenting at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
A full lineup of presenters will be announced closer to the show date.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 MTV VMAs?
Snoop Dogg will emcee the 2026 MTV VMAs, having received 13 nominations and three wins throughout his 30+ year career.
“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” SnoopDogg said in a statement on September 10. “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. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me.”
He went on to say, “And doing it with my brother [producer] Van Toffler makes it even more special. Van was there during those early MTV days when we were changing the culture in real time, and we’ve got a whole lot of history together. Now we get to make some new history. The VMAs have always been about those moments you don’t forget – and trust me, we’re gonna give y’all a few more. See you at the VMAs.”
Will Taylor Swift Be Honored at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, 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.
The trophy will be handed out days after Swift releases The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, which includes four new songs.
How Will the 2026 MTV VMAs Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton?
MTV announced that Kacey Musgraves will pay tribute to the iconic Dolly Parton with a special performance.
It will mark the Best Country nominee’s first performance on the VMAs stage in five years.
