VMAs 2026: Watch All of the Performances
Madonna, LISA, Yung Lean, Raye, Shaboozey, Sombr, and more took over the stage this year
The 2026 MTV VMAs Awards are taking place tonight at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Snoop Dogg-hosted ceremony kicked off with a highly anticipated performance from Madonna , in her first VMAs set since 2003 , with guest appearances by Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, and others. The night also included a George Michael tribute, featuring a perplexing lineup of Raye , Adam Lambert, Sombr, and Teddy Swims, as well as performances by LISA , Yung Lean , Shaboozey , and more.
See the full winners list and follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2026 VMAs.
The Queen of Pop returned to the VMAs stage for the first time in two decades to open the ceremony with a knack for drama. Joining Madonna for her medley was Sabrina Carpenter on “Bring Your Love,” Charli xcx for “Danceteria Afterhours,” and pop-up cameos by Sombr, Seth Rogen, and others as she danced her way through a row of bathroom stalls and sinks. Madonna has 13 total nods at tonight’s awards show, the most of any artist.
After a run of pop-leaning albums, Kacey Musgraves is back on her country beat, and just in time to give a faithful sendoff to the late Dolly Parton in tonight’s special tribute. Musgraves sang “I Will Always Love You” with full lungs and a gentle touch, bridging the gap between Parton’s original version and Whitney Houston’s famous cover. Musgraves is in the running for Best Country with “Dry Spell” at the VMAs tonight.
For a dramatic opening to her performance, Raye sang a portion of “I Will Overcome” while violinists surrounded her. Once she dropped her fur coat to reveal a glittery red dress, Raye was flanked by two backup singers and a full band to start belting out her crossover hit “Where Is My Husband!” with plenty of flair to match the look. That track is nominated for Song of the Year, making it one of Raye’s two VMAs nominations this year.
In a pre-recorded performance from his ongoing tour, Bruno Mars sang a melodramatic version of “Dance With Me” with an extended guitar solo, sparking lights, and a hearty vocal run. Mars has seven nominations this evening, four of which are tied to his single “I Just Might.”
Adam Lambert, Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims (George Michael Tribute)
The late George Michael is getting a multi-artist tribute tonight with Adam Lambert and Teddy Swims joining forces to honor the pop star.
Fresh off her Best Pop win for “Dream,” LISA and over a dozen dancers recreated a dramatic choreography routine in which the Blackpink singer battled her way through fistfights, rode the back of a street cart through a city, and twirled around a light-up street post sign while rapping “Sawadika.” It was appropriately dramatic considering LISA is the first K-pop artist to perform at the MTV VMAs as a solo act. She was nominated four times this year.
French producer Benoit Heitz is best known under his stage name Surkin, or at least until this year when his electronic project Gener8ion tapped Swedish rapper Yung Lean for “Storm” and the song went viral for its entrancing video. The two will perform it live and hope to bring home a trophy from any of their four nominations.
In matching long, dark, leather jackets, Shaboozey and Gunna paraded around the stage together to perform his original song “Cowgirl”, which earned Shaboozey two nominations this year, Best Cinematography and Best Country, and their joint number “High Noon.” Adding to the drama was a massive burning building behind the two artists and an empty horse-drawn carriage.
Best New Artist nominee Sienna Spiro took the stage to justify why she earned her spot in this year’s crop of rising artists. She performed her ballad “Great Expectation” with the backing of a big band, emphasizing her lonely approach to pop-soul with a sizable gap between her and the musicians.
