Fans searching for who is performing at VMAs 2026 finally have their answer, and the lineup includes a career-defining return from Madonna. The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards air live on Sunday, September 27, and this year’s performer roster mixes global pop, country, hip-hop and tribute sets honoring two music legends.
MTV confirmed the full slate of acts in stages throughout September, starting with the announcement of Madonna as opening performer and rolling out additional names over the following days. Below is everything confirmed about the show, the performers, the tributes and how to watch it tonight.
Madonna Opens the Show for the First Time in 23 Years
Madonna will open the 2026 VMAs, marking her first performance on this stage in more than two decades. This will be her fifth time opening the VMAs telecast, a new record that breaks her previous tie with Rihanna at four openings each.
The moment carries extra weight this year. Madonna enters the night as the most-nominated artist, pulling in 11 nods, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her Confessions II era. It’s her strongest nomination haul since 1998, when Ray of Light dominated the ceremony.
Full List of Confirmed VMAs 2026 Performers
Here is the complete performer lineup, according to MTV’s official announcements:
- Madonna – opening performance, song not yet revealed
- LISA (BLACKPINK) – television debut of her single “SaWaDiKa”
- RAYE – solo VMAs performance debut
- Sienna Spiro – VMAs performance debut, competing for Best New Artist
- Shaboozey – performing his hit “Cowgirl”
- Shaboozey & Gunna – joint performance of “High Noon”
- GENER8ION & Yung Lean – world premiere of “Storm II”
Several of these artists are making their VMAs performance debuts this year. Shaboozey, RAYE and Sienna Spiro have never performed on this stage before, which adds a layer of anticipation on top of the returning veterans.
Two Tribute Performances Honor Music Legends
Beyond the regular performance slots, MTV built two dedicated tribute segments into the broadcast.
Kacey Musgraves will deliver a tribute to Dolly Parton, honoring the country icon’s decades-long influence on the genre. Musgraves has often cited Parton as a formative influence on her own songwriting and sound.
Separately, RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims will team up for a tribute to George Michael. This three-artist collaboration is one of the more unexpected pairings on the bill, bringing together a British soul-pop breakout, a viral alt-pop singer and an R&B vocalist known for his powerhouse range.
Nirvana and Taylor Swift Receive Special Honors
The performer lineup isn’t the only major storyline heading into Sunday’s show. Nirvana will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, one of the VMAs’ highest honors, recognizing a body of work that reshaped music video culture.
Taylor Swift, meanwhile, will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, a brand-new award category launching this year. Swift enters the night with nine nominations, second only to Madonna, largely driven by her “The Fate of Ophelia” video.
When and Where to Watch VMAs 2026
The 2026 VMAs will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marking the first time since 2017 that the show has been held in LA rather than the New York area.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30–9:30 PM ET / 4:30–6:30 PM PT |
| Venue | Peacock Theater, Los Angeles |
| TV Channels | CBS and MTV (simulcast) |
| Streaming | Paramount+ (Premium plan), live and on demand |
| Host | Snoop Dogg |
Snoop Dogg is hosting the VMAs for the first time this year. In MTV’s announcement, he described the opportunity as a “full-circle moment,” pointing to his long history with the network dating back to the early days of hip-hop’s rise on MTV.
Viewers without cable can also stream the broadcast through live-TV services such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV and Fubo, all of which carry the CBS or MTV feed.
Who Leads the 2026 VMA Nominations
While performers dominate the headlines, the nominations race is close behind Madonna’s record-tying total. Here’s how the top contenders stack up:
- Madonna – 11 nominations
- Taylor Swift – 9 nominations
- Ariana Grande – 7 nominations
- Sabrina Carpenter – 7 nominations
- Bruno Mars – 5 nominations
- PinkPantheress – 5 nominations
- Zara Larsson – 5 nominations
- LISA – 4 nominations
Madonna and Carpenter are the only two artists nominated in all three of the night’s marquee categories: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Fan voting for competitive categories remains open through MTV’s official voting site until the show airs.
What to Expect From the Telecast
Between Madonna’s long-awaited return, debut performances from Shaboozey, RAYE and Sienna Spiro, and two heartfelt tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael, this year’s VMAs performer lineup covers an unusually wide stylistic range. Add in Snoop Dogg’s hosting debut and the show’s first LA staging since 2017, and the 2026 ceremony has several reasons to draw a large live audience.
Presenters confirmed for the night include Alex Warren, Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, Tyla, Troye Sivan, David Corenswet, Isabel May and Jeff Probst, rounding out a broadcast packed with familiar faces from music, film and television.
Red carpet coverage typically begins ahead of the main telecast, giving fans an early look at arrivals before the performances and awards get underway at 7:30 PM ET.
Who is performing at VMAs 2026 is now fully answered, so grab your remote, tune in Sunday night, and drop your predictions for the big winners in the comments below.