2026 MTV Video Music Awards: How to Watch, Nominees, and Performers

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are officially broadcasting live on Sunday, September 27, 2026, marking the first time the ceremony has landed in the Los Angeles area since 2017. Pop superstar Madonna leads this year’s pack with 11 nominations, closely followed by Taylor Swift with nine nods.

Where and When to Watch the 2026 VMAs

The main ceremony runs live from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM ET (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM PT) on Sunday, September 27, 2026, broadcasting directly from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, as detailed in the source articles. Because the broadcast runs live on both coasts, West Coast viewers avoid waiting for a tape delay. Television viewers can tune in via CBS and MTV, while streaming is available live on Paramount+ for subscribers on the Paramount+ Premium plan. KCAL and CBS News Los Angeles also handle regional coverage. Leading into the main event, CBS LA is airing a red carpet special from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM PT on KCAL, captured live by hosts Kalyna Astrinos and Sheba Turk outside the Peacock Theater. For streaming audiences, that pre-show streams live on CBS News Los Angeles.

Host, Top Nominees, and Major Performers

Thirteen-time nominee and three-time VMA winner Snoop Dogg hosts the 2026 ceremony, marking his first time stepping into the main hosting role. Snoop Dogg is also serving as an executive producer for the production. Snoop Dogg Madonna paces the field with 11 nominations, securing nods in major categories including video, artist, and song of the year. In addition to her nominations, Madonna is opening the show with her first live VMA performance in 23 years, returning to the stage for the first time since 2003. Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter trail the leaders with seven nominations apiece, alongside other nominees including Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae, and LISA. Presenters announced for the evening include Alex Warren, Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, and Tyla.

Taylor Swift Makes History and Premieres Patient Zero

Taylor Swift makes history at the 2026 ceremony by receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Direct Honors, a new award recognizing artists whose work behind the camera expands music video possibilities and advances visual storytelling. Alongside the honor, Swift is debuting the world premiere of her music video for the single Patient Zero during the broadcast. Swift directed the video, which features Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell alongside cinematography by Academy Award winner Emmanuel Lubezki.

Fan Voting and Additional Honorees

Fans can cast votes across 13 eligible categories at vote.mtv.com, with a standard limit of 10 votes per person per category each day. Standard voting runs through September 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET, though the Best New Artist category remains open into the ceremony itself. Separate from the fan vote, Nirvana receives this year’s Video Vanguard award.