2026 MTV Video Music Awards Winners Performances and Unforgettable Moments

The MTV Video Music Awards took place at the Peacock Theatre on September 27, 2026. It had been a while since I last watched the award ceremony. The reason? The show had somewhat fallen into a slump. I missed the performances, the outfits, and, yes, the host with the most! However, when I heard that Snoop Dogg was going to host this year’s ceremony, I thought, “Why not watch and see if the show would be a hit or a miss?”

There he was—Snoop Dogg, walking out and doing what he does best: giving people a show. I was surprised to see him as the host because he normally doesn’t host award shows. He explained that he wasn’t interested at first, but when they told him the show was going to take place in Los Angeles, he was on board.

The show brought along a nostalgic moment when the Material Girl herself—yes, I’m talking about Madonna—stepped onto the stage and performed alongside Sabrina Carpenter. The two performed “Bring Your Love,” followed by Charlie XCX’s “Danceteria Afterhours.” Madonna was also one of the big winners of the night, taking home seven Moon Person awards, including Best Dance Video, Best Collaboration, and Album of the Year.

And then there was Taylor Swift, who was another major highlight of the night. Taylor took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” adding another memorable VbMA moment to her career. During her acceptance speech, she also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, calling her the “ultimate showgirl.” For Taylor fans, it was another big moment in a night filled with memorable performances, appearances, and surprises.

The ceremony also gave us two memorable performances in honor of the late Dolly Parton. The stage went dark and up came a classic performance video of Parton singing her iconic song, “I Will Always Love You.” The song then turned into a duet as the camera panned to singer Kacey Musgraves, who performed her own rendition of the classic. The performance itself was passionate and emotional, creating a beautiful tribute to one of country music’s most beloved legends. The second tribute of the ceremony honored the late George Michael. Performers including sombr, Teddy Swims, and RAYE took the stage to perform some of his classic hits, including “Freedom! ’90,” “Faith,” “Careless Whisper,” and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” The tribute comes nearly 40 years after the 1987 release of Michael’s iconic album Faith. The album’s legacy is also being celebrated with a live album, scheduled for release on November 6, and a feature-length film coming to U.S. theaters on December 11.

The legendary band Nirvana was also honored at this year’s ceremony with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. It has been nearly three decades since the band last performed together following the tragic death of frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994. The honor recognizes Nirvana’s lasting impact on music and their influence on generations of artists and fans.

Other performers throughout the night also delivered amazing performances, including LISA, Shaboozey and GUNNA, Sombr, Sienna Spiro, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean. For more information about the performers and winners, check out MTV

Overall, I have to say that the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards was a fun show to watch. From the performances and tributes to the surprise moments and legendary artists, the ceremony brought back some of the excitement that I had been missing. Snoop Dogg kept the energy going as host, and the night had a nice mix of nostalgia and today’s music. Hopefully, next year’s VMAs will continue that momentum and give us another entertaining night filled with great music, memorable performances, and plenty of surprises.