NEW YORK — The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are here, and Swifties, it looks like the night will already be yours.
It was announced earlier this week that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director’s Award, making her the most awarded artist in VMA history.
Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé for the title of most awarded musician in VMA history. There are 30 in each. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs, with 15.) The new award, which aims to recognize artists whose “work behind the camera expands the possibilities of music video and advances the art of visual storytelling,” will bring Eminem’s total to 31, according to the VMAs.
He will also release the music video for his new song “Patient Zero” during the awards ceremony. Swift directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.
“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.
Here’s what else you need to know before Sunday night’s show.
The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show will air live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27 at 7:30 PM Eastern and 4:30 PM Pacific.
It’s the first time since 2017 that the VMAs have chosen a location other than New York or New Jersey.
The VMAs are also simulcast on MTV and can be watched on Paramount+ in the US. It will be available worldwide the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.
13-time VMA nominee and three-time winner Snoop Dogg will host. Snoop made his debut on the VMA stage in 1994. He started the show in 1999 with Dr. He closed with Dre and Eminem and returns for a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. and a performance with Eminem again in 2022.
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations. The pop superstar has been nominated in every decade of her music career. She won 19 MTV VMA awards and became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
At this year’s ceremony, the video will be nominated for 11 awards, including artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
Taylor Swift ranks second with nine nominations. In addition to the video and artist of the year, it is also nominated for the best pop, directing, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects awards.
Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, who each have seven nods to their names, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, with five nods each. Blackpink’s LISA has four points, and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied with three points.
Madonna will open the show. This will be her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years.
Kacey Musgraves will be paying tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton. The country music icon, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and glittering costumes defined his rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the pinnacle of stardom and acclaim, died of cancer in Nashville in August. He was 80 years old.
Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53 years old.
It’s double duty for Raye, who will also be performing solo.
Other artists include GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, and Lisa and Sienna Spiro.
Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla and Troye Sivan will present.
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