Are you ready for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards? On Sunday night, music’s biggest, brightest and rising stars will descend on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where they’ll celebrate the year’s most influential music videos and beyond.
Historically, the MTV VMAs have been the site of some of pop culture’s most noteworthy moments. Remember when Britney Spears performed “I’m a Slave 4 U” with an albino python draped around her shoulders in 2001? What about the time Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera took the stage for that risque medley in 2003? Plus, who could forget the awkward interruption during the 2009 awards show that sparked the Taylor Swift-Kanye West feud?
From Madonna’s highly anticipated return to the VMAs stage to the celebration of Swift’s accomplishments as a director, here’s everything to know ahead of the 2026 MTV VMAs.
Back to the West Coast
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are on Sunday, Sept. 27.
For the last nine years, the MTV VMAs have been held in New York City. But this year marks the first time since 2017 that the awards show will be held on the West Coast. The 2026 awards show will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Beloved SoCal rapper set to host
It wouldn’t be a return to California without a SoCal legend hosting the occasion! Snoop Dogg, who famously hails from Long Beach, Calif., will assume emcee duties on Sunday, continuing the VMAs’ streak of hip-hop artists as hosts. LL Cool J hosted in 2025, while Megan Thee Stallion emceed in 2024.
Snoop Dogg attends the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival.
(Christopher Polk via Getty Images)
“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement after he was unveiled as host. “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.”
The “Gin and Juice” rapper has accrued 13 MTV VMA nominations and three wins over his decades-spanning career. He made his VMAs main-stage debut back in 1994 with a performance of his track, “Murder Was the Case.”
Women lead this year’s crop of nominees
Female singers, both established and up-and-coming, are being recognized at this year’s awards show. Madonna tops this year’s list of nominees with a career-high 13 nominations in categories including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. She isn’t the only female artist on top: Taylor Swift is nominated for 11 awards, with fellow pop girlies Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande following close behind. Bruno Mars, the evening’s top male nominee, is up for six awards.
Viewers should also keep a watchful eye on the Best New Artist category, in which artists Bella Kay, Cortis, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty are in the running.
See the full list of nominees here.
Madonna to make triumphant return to VMAs stage, a Dolly Parton tribute, plus more scheduled performances
It’s a great year to be a Madonna fan! In addition to being this year’s most-nominated artist, the Queen of Pop will also perform on the MTV VMAs stage for the first time in 23 years. The Confessions II pop star performed during the first-ever VMAs 42 years ago at just 26 years old. In 1984, she took the stage to sing “Like a Virgin” at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, a performance that has since been recognized as one of the most iconic (and divisive) of her career. She lit up the VMAs stage four more times in the years that followed, performing “Express Yourself” in 1989, “Vogue” in 1990, “Bye Bye Baby” in 1993 and the infamous medley with Spears and Aguilera in 2003.
Madonna attends the MTV VMAs in 1984.
(Sonia Moskowitz via Getty Images)
Madonna isn’t the only artist performing at the VMAs: Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Gener8ion and Yung Lean, along with Best New Artist nominee Sienna Spiro, are also set to take the stage. Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will hit the VMAs stage for a performance honoring George Michael, while Kacey Musgraves will lead a special tribute to Dolly Parton.
A historic night for Taylor Swift
The “Fate of Ophelia” pop star — who just announced she’s releasing a new single this week — is no stranger to praise at the MTV VMAs, and Sunday night’s awards show is no different. Swift is set to receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, spotlighting her contributions to visual storytelling.
“The MTV VMA Artist Director Honors celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice,” reads a statement from CBS and MTV. The official statement also praises Swift’s “visual language” and her blend of “narrative, symbolism, humor and autobiographical themes.”
Taylor Swift attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
(Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
Swift, an eight-time Best Direction nominee at the MTV VMAs, has so far taken home the award four times, for videos including 2020’s “The Man,” 2022’s “All Too Well: The Short Film, 2023’s “Anti-Hero” and 2024’s “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. She earned her eighth nomination this year for “Opalite,” the second single from her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
With 30 MTV Video Music Awards to her name, Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé as the most-awarded artist in VMAs history. The Artist Director Honors will bring her total wins to 31.
Look out for Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty
Ahead of the awards ceremony, music aficionados should keep their eyes on Spiro and Lefty, two Best New Artist nominees who’ve generated significant buzz online.
Sienna Spiro performs during All Points East 2026.
(Joseph Okpako via Getty Images)
Spiro, a 20-year-old British singer-songwriter, was catapulted to internet fame after going viral on TikTok, where she began posting covers at the age of 16. With her retro aesthetic and raspy, distinctive tone, she’s drawn comparisons to powerhouse vocalists like Adele and Amy Winehouse. Her breakthrough track, “Die On This Hill,” went viral on social media last year. Spiro went on to release her critically acclaimed debut studio album, Visitor, in July.
Stella Lefty performs during the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival.
(Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
Lefty, meanwhile, rose to fame earlier this year after releasing her country-pop single “Boston.” But the 24-year-old rising star’s musical ascent hasn’t been without controversy: As the daughter of billionaire Eric Lefkofsky, Lefty has been criticized as both an industry plant and a nepo baby. The two-time VMA nominee also has a growing list of copycat accusations, with listeners pointing out how a handful of her tracks sound like other popular songs. The most viral allegation so far? That Lefty’s breakout song, “Boston,” sounds far too similar to Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” to be a coincidence.