Madonna will perform at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, marking her first live appearance on the show in 23 years.
Key facts
- •Madonna last performed at the VMAs in 2003 during the show's opening segment.
- •The 2026 ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
- •Madonna’s album 'Confessions II' is her first record release in seven years.
- •The artist has 19 total career VMA wins and was the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
- •The event will be simulcast on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+.
Madonna is set to open the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, returning to the stage for the first time since her 2003 performance alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. The artist enters the ceremony as the leading nominee with 11 nods, including nominations for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. The event will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27.
By the numbers
Nominations and Recent Success
Madonna’s 11 nominations follow the release of her album "Confessions II," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 134,000 equivalent album units. This marks the third time in her career she has led the VMA nominations, having previously earned nine nods in both 1990 and 1998. Her current nominations include Song of the Year for "Bring Your Love" and recognition for "Confessions II — The Film." Her nomination count for this year places her ahead of other top contenders, including Taylor Swift with nine nominations, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, who each received seven. Madonna currently holds 19 career VMA wins.
Event Details and Production
The 2026 VMAs will air live on September 27 from 7:30-9:30 PM ET (4:30-6:30 PM PT) on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming available on Paramount+ (Premium) in the United States. The show will be available to global audiences the following day. This year’s ceremony at the Peacock Theatre marks the first time the awards have been held on the West Coast in nine years, following the 2017 broadcast from the pre-Kia Forum. The production team includes executive producers Jesse Ignjatovic, Barb Bialkowski, Bruce Gillmer, and Snoop Dogg, with Gunpowder & Sky serving as the production company. Additional performers and presenters are expected to be announced in the coming week.
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