The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards arrive tonight, Sunday, September 27, with a particularly starry Los Angeles ceremony: Snoop Dogg is hosting, Madonna is opening the show after a 23-year VMA performance absence, and the night features a mix of established pop stars and newer international acts.
Here is everything you need to know before the red carpet turns into the main event.
When are the 2026 MTV VMAs?
The ceremony takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and is scheduled for 7:30–9:30 p.m. ET / 4:30–6:30 p.m. PT tonight.
For UK viewers, that is 12:30–2:30 a.m. BST, meaning the ceremony technically runs into Monday morning.
🇺🇸 Where to watch in the US
American viewers have several options:
- CBS — live television broadcast.
- MTV — simultaneous live broadcast.
- Paramount+ Premium — live streaming.
- From Monday, September 28, the ceremony becomes available on-demand to Paramount+ subscribers on all plans.
🇬🇧 Where to watch in the UK
For UK viewers, the practical streaming option is Paramount+ from Monday, September 28, when the completed ceremony becomes available internationally. MTV/Paramount say the show will be made available globally the following day.
The US live broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, so British viewers wanting to watch the American broadcast live would be watching from 12:30 a.m. BST.
🇪🇺 Europe
The ceremony will likewise become available internationally on Paramount+ and MTV from Monday, September 28, with the exact television/streaming arrangements varying by territory.
For Central European viewers, the live Los Angeles broadcast corresponds to approximately 1:30–3:30 a.m. CEST, making the following-day Paramount+ option considerably more convenient.
Bottom line: if you’re in Europe and don’t have a confirmed local MTV broadcast, the safest option is to check your local Paramount+ and MTV listings for Monday, September 28 rather than assuming the US CBS feed is available in your country.
Snoop Dogg takes the hosting job
This year’s master of ceremonies is Snoop Dogg, who is also an executive producer of the show.
It’s a particularly appropriate choice: Snoop has been connected with the VMAs since his first main-stage appearance in 1994 and is a 13-time VMA nominee and three-time winner.
The presenter lineup is also substantial, including Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, Tyla, Alex Warren, David Corenswet and others.
Madonna is back
The night’s biggest nostalgia moment may belong to Madonna.
She will open the VMAs, marking her first performance at the ceremony in 23 years. The return is particularly significant because Madonna isn’t simply making a guest appearance: she arrives as the show’s leading nominee, with 11 nominations.
And there could be more to the opening than a straightforward solo performance — the show’s producer has teased “very special guests.”
Who else is performing?
The confirmed performance lineup includes:
- Madonna
- LISA
- RAYE
- Shaboozey
- Gunna
- Sienna Spiro
- GENER8ION
- Yung Lean
GENER8ION and Yung Lean are scheduled to give the world-premiere performance of “STORM II”, while several of the performers are making their VMA debuts.
That makes RAYE’s appearance particularly interesting for UK audiences, while LISA brings a major K-pop presence to the ceremony.
The biggest categories
The headline awards include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, alongside genre categories and technical awards.
The Video of the Year nominees are:
- 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 Year pits Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift against one another.
Meanwhile, Song of the Year includes BTS’ Swim, Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas, HUNTR/X’s Golden, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s Bring Your Love, Olivia Dean’s Man I Need, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s Stateside, and RAYE’s WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!.
Other major categories include Best New Artist, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Hip-Hop, Best R&B, Best Alternative, Best Latin, Best K-Pop, Best Dance, Best Country, Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Albumand Song of Summer.
The professional categories include Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.
So, who looks set to have the biggest night?
Rather than pretending the results can be known in advance, the clearest indication is the nomination count.
Madonna leads the field with 11 nominations, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are among the next major contenders, with seven nominations apiece, while Bruno Mars, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress are also among the artists with multiple nominations.
That makes Madonna and Swift the two names to watch most closely when the trophies start coming out.
Swift has an additional moment guaranteed: she is receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors, recognising her work behind the camera. The honour will take her to 31 career VMAs, making her the most-awarded artist in the ceremony’s history.
And there is another major legacy award: Nirvana will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The one award still worth watching before the show
Fan voting has closed in most major categories, but Best New Artist remains open during the live show.
The remaining nominees are Bella Kay, CORTIS and Sienna Spiro, with Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith and Stella Lefty listed as runners-up.
That means viewers can still have a direct say in one of tonight’s awards.
The 2026 VMAs in a nutshell
Where: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles
When: Sunday, September 27
US broadcast: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on CBS and MTV
UK: 12:30 a.m. BST Monday
Host: Snoop Dogg
Opening performer: Madonna
Major performers: LISA, RAYE, Shaboozey, Gunna, Sienna Spiro, GENER8ION and Yung Lean
Leading nominee: Madonna, 11 nominations
Next: Taylor Swift, nine nominations
Special honours: Taylor Swift — Artist Director Honors; Nirvana — Video Vanguard Award
Europe: international availability on Paramount+/MTV from Monday, September 28, subject to local listings.
For anyone staying up in Britain or Europe, the real question isn’t whether there will be big moments — with Madonna opening, Snoop hosting and Swift chasing more VMA history, there should be plenty.
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