The MTV Video Music Awards made its return to the big stage this year – in Los Angeles this time, instead of its more recent home of New York – for an unusually late award show. The 2026 edition kicked off its night well past summer’s end, something unheard of in the last 40 years (prior to tonight, every VMA occurred no later than September 14 in a given year). Still, a late start shouldn’t stop or deter the show, right? Well…
This year’s celebration of the best music videos featured performances from Madonna, RAYE, Bruno Mars, Shaboozey, Lisa, and more while honoring a slew of nominees that included the aforementioned names and others like Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Cardi B, Drake, Don Toliver, Kehlani, and more. In the end, we got a show that wasn’t as big a spectacle as previous editions of the VMAs, as it seemed to opt for the cool chill of the autumn months it was hosted in. Furthermore, the underrepresentation of Black artists was noticeable during the night, as Cardi B (Best Hip-Hop) and PinkPantheress (Best Art Direction) reigned as the sole Black winners, while Shaboozey, Gunna, RAYE and MNEK completed the list of Black performers.
Maybe we’re wrong for expecting past VMA glories to return in 2026 and beyond, but it happened once, so it could happen again. Additionally, a few moments from the night stood out as noteworthy and memorable, adding to the belief that the VMAs can return to the quality of their past years. Without further ado, here are the moments that made the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards special.
Madonna Wins The Night and Brings The New Class Of Pop Along With Her
Madonna owned the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The pop legend stole the show and went home with seven awards, including Best New Artist and Best Album. It was amazing to see Madonna still being celebrated so far into her career, and it was also beautiful to see her bond with today’s pop stars. Her performance of “Bring You Love” with Sabrina Carpenter and “Danceteria” with Charli XCX were two of the best of the night. She gave a warm, sweet account of how her collaboration with Carpenter came to be during their acceptance speech for Best Collaboration, and she gave her flowers to Troye Sivan and Charli XCX later in the night as well. Madonna is set on being the legend that nurtures the new class and we love to see it.
Lisa’s “SaWADiKA” Performance Was a Production Masterclass
It was also a great night for K-pop singer Lisa, who took home her fourth MTV VMA with a win for Best Pop thanks to “Dream” with Kentaro Sakaguchi. The singer held back some emotion during her speech, then quickly got back into star form to perform “SaWADiKA.” The track, the lead single from Lisa’s upcoming EP Press Play, made a strong impression on the VMA stage. Although the award show took place in Los Angeles, Lisa seemed to be running through New York City streets, thanks to motion graphics, onstage cars, and other props that made it look like the K-pop singer was flying through Times Square. It was a nice touch to a performance that unfolds an exciting era for a star who continues to leave the VMAs with some hardware.
RAYE Puts on a Spectacle With Performances of “I Will Overcome” & “Where Is My Husband”
London singer RAYE gifted the music world one of the year’s best albums with her sophomore effort, This Music May Contain Hope. Her ability to take control of the atmosphere in a given venue is well-documented – look no further than her Grammys performance earlier this year. Tonight was much the same: RAYE stood tall and confident for a strong performance of “I Will Overcome” before letting her hair (and dress) down for a cheery rendition of “Where Is My Husband,” the hit single from her latest album. In the end, RAYE used the VMAs to grant herself another entry on her growing list of impressive performances.
Some of Today’s Chart-Topping Artists Came Together to Celebrate George Michael
This December will mark a decade since the untimely death of pop legend George Michael. Known for chart-topping hits like “Careless Whisper,” “Faith,” and “Father Figure,” Michael rose to pop stardom in the 1990s and became one of the best-selling artists of all time. It was this and more that was honored in a sweet tribute to Michael during the VMAs as the award show called on Sombr, RAYE, Teddy Swims, Adam Lambert, Meek, MNEK and Saint Harison to perform some of Michael’s classics. All in all, the tribute was well put together, with highlight moments coming from RAYE’s rendition of “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” Sombr’s performance of “Father Figure,” and Adam Lambert’s own of “Freedom! ’90.” In the end, the tribute was a sweet reminder of Michael’s impact and legacy, both of which will span numerous decades and music generations to come.
Shaboozey & Gunna Toast Up To Country With A Rocking Performance Of “High Noon”
There’s no doubt Shaboozey is still a star in the music world, and his return to the MTV VMAs stage in his post-”A Bar Song” career proves it. Though he left without hardware tonight, losing in the Best Country category to Ella Langley’s monstrous smash hit “Choosin’ Texas,” Shaboozey still got his shine during the night. The Virginia native brought the local bar to the big stage for a raucous performance of “Cowgirl” before calling Gunna out of an old-fashioned paddy wagon to rock out to “High Noon.” Few stages can handle the genre-blending performance Shaboozey keeps delivering, but he and Gunna made it work at the VMAs.
Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking Night Is Capped Off With Her “Patient Zero” Premiere
At this point, there might not be a record Taylor Swift hasn’t broken. However, before tonight, there was one that she had her eye on: the most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history. At the 2026 awards, Taylor secured that honor, breaking her tie with Beyoncé with wins for Video Of The Year, Best Direction, and the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. Despite her towering megastardom, Taylor wasn’t too above coming down to ground level to honor the late Dolly Parton and thank her for inspiring her artistry through her incredible career. If all of that didn’t make for a standout moment in the night, Taylor also returned to the VMA stage with a gift for fans as she premiered the video for “Patient Zero,” her latest single from the upcoming The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore project. Taylor has shined at the VMAs over the years and that light refuses to get dim any time soon.