The 2026 VMAs are this weekend. 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.
As far as the 2026 MTV VMA nominees go, Madonna leads the pack with 11 nods. Taylor 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.
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
Paramount+
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 Survivor and The Challenge, and buzzy series like Dutton Ranch.
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
VMAs presenters for this year’s awards have yet to be announced.
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
Madonna is the most-nominated arist at the 2026 VMAs. (Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS)
(Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021 via Getty Images)Video of the Year
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Artist of the YearSong of the Year
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Huntr/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, “Golden”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
Olivia Dean, “Man I Need”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Raye, “Where Is My Husband!”
Best New ArtistBest Collaboration
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice, “Chains & Whips”
French Montana x Max B, “Ever Since U Left Me”
Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye, “Hard Part”
Best Pop
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Olivia Rodrigo, “Drop Dead”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B feat. Kehlani, “Safe”
Megan Thee Stallion, “Lover Girl”
Tyler, the Creator, “Sugar on My Tongue”
Best R&B
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Chris Brown, “It Depends/Obvious”
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis, “Is It a Crime”
Best Alternative
MGK & Fred Durst, “Fix Ur Face”
Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide”
Olivia Rodrigo, “The Cure”
Twenty One Pilots, “Drag Path”
Best Dance
Bebe Rexha & Faithless, “New Religion”
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “Runway”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl”
Best Latin
Anitta with Shakira, “Choka Choka”
Fuerza Regida, “Tu Sancho”
Rosalía feat. Yahritza Y Su Esencia, “La Perla”
Ryan Castro, Kapo & Gangsta, “La Villa”
Shakira & Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
Best K-Pop
Le Sserafim (feat. J-Hope of BTS), “Spaghetti”
LISA feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Best Country
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Kacey Musgraves, “Dry Spell”
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”
Tucker Wetmore, “Brunette”
Best Direction
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Best Art Direction
Lady Gaga & Doechii, “Runway”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Sombr, “My Body Isn’t Ready”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Editing
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
Lisa feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, “Dream”
Madonna, “Confessions II – The Film”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Choreography
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Harry Styles, “Dance No More”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Tate McRae, “Nobody’s Girl”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Jisoo x Zayn, “Eyes Closed”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
PinkPantheress, “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
Raye feat. Hans Zimmer, “Click Clack Symphony”
Taylor Swift, “The Fate of Ophelia”
Best GroupBest Long Form Video
Charli xcx, “Music, Fashion, Film”
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Gener8ion, “Storm starring Yung Lean”
Madonna, “Confessions II — The Film”
Best Album
Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
Sabrina Carpenter, Man’s Best Friend
Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
Song of the Summer
Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Bruno Mars, “Risk It All”
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Latto feat. Doja Cat, “Okayyy”
Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now”
Olivia Dean, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)”
Olivia Rodrigo, “Stupid Song”
Sabrina Carpenter, “House Tour”
Slayyyter, “Brand New Chanel$”
Tame Impala and Jennie, “Dracula”
Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You”