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The 2026 VMAs are tonight. This year’s MTV Video Music Awards will open with the first VMAs performance from Madonna in 23 years. There will also be a Dolly Parton tribute from Kacey Musgraves, as well as performances from Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey and more. Nirvana will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award, and Taylor Swift will be honored with the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors — and premiere her new music video for “Patient Zero,” starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
As far as the 2026 MTV VMA nominees go, Madonna leads the pack with 11 nods. Swift is close behind with nine nominations, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are tied for third with seven apiece. Fan voting remains open through 6 p.m. ET on Sept. 25.
The awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV, and stream on Paramount+ Premium. Here’s everything you need to know to watch live, even without cable.
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MTV VMAs 2026 red carpet live updates: Stella Lefty, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey and more begin to arrive ahead of the show
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Snoop Dogg is hosting the 2026 MTV VMAs — and of course, it’s a West Coast party
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MTV VMAs nominations 2026: Madonna, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter lead the pack
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Nirvana is set to receive this year’s VMAs Video Vanguard Award. Could someone like Kurt Cobain still become a star today?
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Madonna is the most-nominated artist at this year’s VMAs. No one has ever made a comeback quite like this.
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Move over, Beyoncé: Taylor Swift to become the most awarded artist in VMAs history with inaugural Artist Director Honors
When are the 2026 VMAs?
The 2026 VMAs are Sunday, Sept. 27.
MTV VMAs start time
The VMAs will start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
MTV VMAs TV channel
The 2026 MTV VMAs will air on CBS and will be simulcast on MTV.
MTV VMAs streaming
You can stream the 2026 VMAs live on Paramount+ with a Paramount+ Premium subscription, which includes livestream access to your local CBS channel.
If you’re a Paramount+ Essential subscriber, you’ll be able to stream the awards show on demand the day after it airs, but you won’t be able to watch live.
How to watch the 2026 MTV VMAs live without cable
There are two Paramount+ tiers to choose from: the ad-supported Essential plan for $8.99/month, or the ad-free Premium plan for $13.99/month, which also includes ad-free on-demand streaming, live access to your local CBS station — which you’ll need to watch the VMAs live — and full access to the Showtime streaming library.
Paramount+ offers subscribers access to a literal mountain of entertainment, including live sports, reality TV like <a href="https://comicvibe.com/10-best-tv-shows-like-survivor/” title=”10 Best TV Shows Like Survivor”>Survivor and The Challenge, and buzzy series like Dutton Ranch.
How to watch the VMAs red carpet?
The Associated Press is streaming the red carpet live on its YouTube channel. CBS LA will start streaming at 6 p.m. ET.
When does VMAs voting end?
You can vote for your favorite artist in 13 VMAs categories at vote.mtv.com through Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. ET (apart from Best New Artist, which remains open into the show).
Who is hosting the 2026 MTV VMAs?
Snoop Dogg is stepping up to host the 2026 MTV VMAs. In a press release, the 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner said, “MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning. 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.”
2026 MTV VMAs performers list
Madonna will open this year’s VMAs — it will be her first performance at the awards show in 23 years. Other 2026 VMAs performers include Gener8ion and Yung Lean, Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Gunna and Sienna Spiro. Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will perform a tribute to George Michael. Kacey Musgraves will perform a tribute to Dolly Parton.
VMAs presenters 2026
Alex Warren, Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, Ciara Miller, Troye Sivan, Tyla, Belmont Cameli, Ella Bright, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Isabel May and David Corenswet have been named as presenters.
Who is receiving the 2026 Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs?
Nirvana is the recipient of this year’s Video Vanguard Award.
Who is receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors?
Taylor Swift will be the first recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors at the 2026 VMAs. The new award is for “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.”
2026 MTV VMAs full nominations list
Video of the Year
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the Year
Song of the Year
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Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
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Huntr/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, “Golden”
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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
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PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Best New Artist
Best Collaboration
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Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips”
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French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me”
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Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
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PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
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Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
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Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part”
Best Pop
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
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Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Hip-Hop
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Megan Thee Stallion, “Lover Girl”
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Tyler, the Creator, “Sugar on My Tongue”
Best R&B
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Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious”
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Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime”
Best Alternative
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MGK & Fred Durst, “Fix Ur Face”
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Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide”
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Twenty One Pilots, “Drag Path”
Best Dance
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Bebe Rexha & Faithless, “New Religion”
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PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Best Latin
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Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka”
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Rosalía feat. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla”
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Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta, “La Villa”
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Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
Best K-Pop
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Le Sserafim (feat. J-Hope of BTS), “Spaghetti”
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LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Best Country
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Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
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Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo”
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Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”
Best Direction
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
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Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
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Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Best Art Direction
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
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PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
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Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
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Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
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Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
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PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
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Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony”
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Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Group
Best Long Form Video
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Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film”
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Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
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Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
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Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Best Album
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Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend
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Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
Song of the Summer
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Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
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Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
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Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy”
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Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
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Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$”
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Tame Impala and Jennie, “Dracula”
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Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You”
