The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are getting underway Sunday at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, with the night’s red-carpet arrivals unfolding ahead of a ceremony packed with major performers, tributes and closely watched nominees.
Madonna will open the VMAs with her first performance at the event since 2003. That earlier appearance became the night’s biggest headline after she shared the stage — and kisses — with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.
This year’s other anticipated musical moments include Kasey Musgraves leading a tribute to Dolly Parton. Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will perform a separate tribute to George Michael.
Madonna and Taylor Swift lead a crowded nominations field
Madonna enters the ceremony with 11 nominations, the most among the stars detailed for this year’s show. Her 14-minute release, “Confessions — The Film,” put her in contention across the VMAs, including for video of the year and artist of the year.
Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, including video of the year and artist of the year recognition connected to “The Fate of Ophelia.” Swift’s total does not include one honor that has already been announced: the inaugural Artist Director Honors.
In a statement, MTV and CBS said the award recognizes Swift’s work in “creating interconnected narratives, cinematic worlds and recurring details that invite audiences deeper into each project.” The honor is likely to be presented after the broadcast debut of her self-directed “Patient Zero” video.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each arrive with seven nominations. Both are competing in the best pop video and best direction categories. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are also among the nominees across the ceremony’s 23 award categories.
Fans and industry experts split the voting
Of the 23 awards at the 2026 VMAs, 17 are decided by fans. Those races include song of the year, best new artist and song of the summer.
The remaining six “professional” categories are determined by industry experts. Best cinematography, best direction and best choreography are among the awards decided through that process.
Swift’s Artist Director Honors is one of only two trophies announced before the ceremony. Nirvana will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The news was revealed on September 9, timed to the 34th anniversary of the band’s performance at the 1992 VMAs.
That 1992 appearance came eight years after the inaugural MTV VMAs in 1984, when the annual awards and their signature Moon Person trophy were introduced.
A bigger stage after last year’s ratings jump
The expansive 2026 lineup follows a major ratings increase for the previous ceremony. The 2025 VMAs posted a 42 percent rise over the prior year, an increase attributed largely to the show’s first simulcast across CBS, MTV and Paramount+.
For 2026, the mix of returning icons, current nominees, career tributes and a pre-announced honor for Swift gives the ceremony multiple potential headline moments. Madonna’s opening performance adds another major draw, particularly because it marks her first time performing at the VMAs in more than two decades.
What Happens Next?
The red-carpet arrivals will continue throughout the evening before the ceremony begins at the Peacock Theater. Inside, attention will turn to Madonna’s opening number, the tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael, the debut of Swift’s “Patient Zero” video and the results across all 23 categories.