The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards had been handed out on Sunday evening and the present was filled with nice moments. Learn on to seek out out extra.
Madonna opens 2026 VMAs with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX
Pop dominated the opening of the 2026 VMAs, as Madonna kicked off the present with a medley of “Deliver Your Love” and “Danceteria Afterhours” alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX minutes earlier than Ok-pop star Lisa received greatest pop for “Dream” with Kentaro Sakaguchi. Madonna started her efficiency of “Deliver Your Love” unfold eagle atop a black grand piano whereas Carpenter performed the keys under. The 2 males rapidly deserted the instrument to launch into their choreographed steps. Madonna’s dancers then carried her onto a transferring platform that flew throughout the stage whereas a choir wearing veiled white nun’s garb sang the refrain of the hit track. The digicam then gave approach to a second megastar reveal as Charli The scene is paying homage to Madonna’s notorious efficiency on the MTV VMAs in 2003, through which she shared an onstage kiss with the 2 largest pop stars of the period: Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Sunday’s efficiency marked Madonna’s first return to the VMAs since that iconic second. Study extra. — Brande Victorian
Raye delivers a steamy rendition of the hit “The place Is My Husband!”
Raye delivered a searing rendition of her hit track “The place is My Husband!” on the VMAs. The singer, wearing purple, as within the music video for the track, was surrounded by her backing vocalists for a full of life rendition of the track, which took over social media final yr. Sunday’s look marked her VMA debut. Study extra. -Nicole Fell
Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton
Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton on the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Musgraves, who was nominated this yr for greatest nation for “Dry Spell,” carried out one in every of Parton’s largest hits, “I Will At all times Love You.” Though the tribute was proven on display screen on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Musgraves was not current on the ceremony in individual. Written and initially recorded by Parton in 1973, “I Will At all times Love You” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching Nation Songs chart twice, as soon as in 1974 and once more in 1982. Musgraves beforehand paid tribute to Parton, who died on August 25 on the age of 80, at her August 28 live performance in Boston, the place she carried out her personal track, “Rainbow” and a canopy of “Right here You Come Once more » by Parton in honor of the singer. Study extra. —Mariel Turner
Nirvana pays tribute to Kurt Cobain as Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear settle for Video Vanguard Award
Public Enemy frontman Chuck D celebrated Nirvana’s musical legacy by presenting the ’90s grunge rock band with the Video Vanguard Award. “Nirvana by no means bowed to the need of the mainstream; they at all times stayed true to their imaginative and prescient,” Chuck D mentioned on stage. “Their sound was sturdy, lovely, boldly open. The lyrics had been uncooked and deeply human. Their music movies outlined an period. They had been fully authentic and at all times fearless in a time when the established order was attending to the purpose of ritual. In the present day, their affect could be heard in just about each era of artists that comply with.” After a pre-recorded phase displaying the group of their early days, reflecting on memorable music movies, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl accepted the award alongside by Pat Smear, who was smoking a cigarette on stage. “The concepts for these movies all got here from the imaginative and prescient of one of many biggest artists of all time, Kurt Cobain,” Novoselic mentioned of the band’s singer and guitarist who died by suicide in 1994 at age 27. Learn extra. — Brande Victorian
Taylor Swift releases music video for brand new single “Affected person Zero”
Taylor Swift launched the music video for her newest single “Affected person Zero” on the VMAs. Swift created the video after accepting the primary artwork director honor. It stars Swift, alongside Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell – Johnson offered Swift with the respect on stage. The clip options Johnson as Farrell’s present lover. It is clear from the video that this isn’t a wholesome relationship. All through the video, Swift mirrors Johnson, as she sings about understanding what the actress goes by means of as a result of she was the person’s “affected person zero.” After an incident at an occasion, Farrell makes a remark to Johnson that he thought “she was completely different”, main the actress to query who she is completely different from. The video reveals Swift experiencing precisely what Johnson skilled, revealing that Farrell poisoned Swift, resulting in her demise. The clip ends the place it started, with Johnson a grave, however it’s now revealed to be Swift’s grave. The actress leaves a rose atop the gravestone for the lady. Study extra. -Nicole Fell
Snoop Dogg mocks Madonna in VMAs monologue
Snoop Dogg is aware of how one can wow crowds, and the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards had been no exception. The rapper hosted the ceremony on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the place he kicked off the festivities by mocking Madonna, who opened the present and received a number of awards, and shared a particular thanks to his hometown of Los Angeles. The 2026 VMAs are the primary time the present has taken place in Los Angeles for the reason that 2017 ceremony, hosted by Katy Perry on the Discussion board. “Madonna simply killed it. Now she’s an icon. One factor I wish to say is she’s not a virgin anymore,” Snoop mentioned throughout his opening monologue. “Now once they first requested me to host this awards present, I mentioned, ‘Is it going to be in Los Angeles? No? Nicely, I am busy.’ Then they known as me again and mentioned, “Wait, Mr. Dogg. It is in Los Angeles now. So having this present hosted by me in my metropolis means two issues. First, tonight would be the largest celebration the VMAs have ever seen. And second, it would not be a Snoop Dogg celebration if I did not provide a bit little bit of that particular, sticky, disgusting, disgusting…it is for each winner right here tonight. However simply the winners. Study extra. —Mariel Turner
Taylor Swift extends her VMA document
Taylor Swift received the inaugural Video of the 12 months award for “The Destiny if Ophelia” on the 2026 Video Music Awards. The singer prolonged her document for many wins within the Video of the 12 months class, having beforehand received for “Dangerous Blood,” “You Have to Calm Down,” “All Too Nicely: The Quick Movie,” “Anti-Hero” and “Fortnight.” Swift took the stage on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to simply accept the award: “Thanks a lot for giving this video this award as a result of I am so pleased with it. To the followers, thanks for voting. I simply cherished making this video as a result of I wished it to appear like one steady shot, so I discovered quite a bit about how one can disguise the cuts in locations,” she mentioned. “I wish to thank everybody who helped me on this video shoot as a result of – simply the choreography, I like a lot. Mandy Moore as choreographer – set design, manufacturing design by Ethan Tobman. My editor, Chancler Haynes. My cinematographer on this video who I’ve labored with earlier than, he is one of many individuals who gave me the boldness to make movies by myself. His title is Rodrigo Prieto. I wish to thank him thank. ” Study extra. —Mariel Turner
Adam Lambert’s shock efficiency caps hit-filled tribute to George Michael
When Sombr, Raye and Teddy Swims had been introduced as paying tribute to George Michael, virtually 40 years after the discharge of his Religion album and earlier than a dwell Religion tour album and have movie launched later this yr, it appeared that the VMAs phase honoring Michael, who died in 2016, could be primarily composed of songs from Religion. However the musicians and shock performer Adam Lambert, who hadn’t been introduced as a part of the efficiency earlier than taking the stage Sunday evening, went past the 1987 album by performing Michael’s Wham! the hit “Careless Whisper” and even the long-lasting single “Freedom ’90”, additionally identified for its model-filled music video. Sombr took the stage, after an intro by Orville Peck, carrying Michael’s customized actual leather-based jacket from Religion period, which Michael wore on the Religion tour and in a Weight loss plan Coke business, and performing “Religion” whereas passing in entrance of Michael’s video screens on this video. He then adopted up with one other Religion faucet “Father Determine”. The efficiency shifted to Raye, who delivered a transferring rendition of Michael’s duet with Aretha Franklin, “I Knew You Had been Ready,” which was not broadcast. Religionwith golden lighting, smoke and sepia pictures of Michael. The digicam then panned to a saxophonist, performing the opening to “Careless Whisper,” which Teddy Swims carried out from a platform surrounded by spotlights. Then Lambert got here out from behind the scenes to carry out “Freedom,” for a triumphant finale. Study extra. -Hilary Lewis
Lisa Launches Thrilling First Tv Efficiency of “SaWaDiKa”
Lalisa, the diva herself, took the stage on the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday evening.
Tyla launched the worldwide pop star as she delivered the debut efficiency of her new single “SaWaDiKa” on the awards present. Lisa introduced out a lot of dancers for an lively rendition of the track, which the singer launched earlier this month. Will probably be on his subsequent EP, Press Playscheduled for launch in October. Lisa, whose actual title is Lalisa Manobal, began her efficiency with a victory. The 29-year-old Blackpink member received the most effective pop class for her single “Dream” from her debut album. Alter Ego. The track was additionally nominated for Finest Ok-Pop, Finest Modifying and Finest Cinematography. Lisa’s was additionally nominated once more in the most effective Ok-pop class with Blackpink for his or her summer time 2025 hit “Leap.” Study extra. -Nicole Fell
Gener8ion and Yung Leon wow the gang
Gener8ion and Yung Lean took the stage to carry out “Storm,” as the ultimate efficiency of the night. For this, they recreated the viral video that includes the choreography of Damien Jalet. The viewers love which earned him one of many largest rounds of applause of the night, and plenty of stood up. -Kimberly Nordyke
The 2026 VMAs happened on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, was broadcast dwell on CBS and MTV, and streamed on Paramount+ (Premium) in the US. They may even be accessible worldwide the following day on Paramount+ and MTV.