MTV VMAs 2026: Where to watch and stream the show live

The MTV VMAs 2026 will be held on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Host: Snoop Dogg. In the U.S., it will air from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV, or stream on Paramount+.

Viewers in other countries will get access the next day. One of the biggest highlights is Madonna opening the show and performing at the VMAs for the first time in 23 years. She also has the most nominations (11 in total).

As Billboard reported, Taylor Swift is another big part. She is to receive the first-ever Artist Director Honors and is also expected to premiere her new video for "Patient Zero." The band Nirvana will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Also scheduled to perform are several artists, including LISA, Shaboozey with Gunna, RAYE, GENER8ION with Yung Lean, and Sienna Spiro. And there will be special tribute performances. Kacey Musgraves will pay tribute to Dolly Parton, while RAYE, Sombr, and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael.

Want to know how to enjoy the VMAs 2026? Keep reading below!

Here's how you can watch MTV VMAs 2026

MTV VMAs 2026 will air live on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The main ceremony is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET, but live events sometimes run a bit long.

Before the main event, viewers can watch red carpet coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET on CBS News Los Angeles. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and MTV with no West Coast tape delay across the U.S.

For people watching MTV VMAs 2026 online in the U.S., Paramount+ Premium will provide the live stream through the local CBS feed, while Paramount+ Essential does not offer live access. Other services that include CBS, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV Stream, and Fubo, can also be used.

Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch the show on demand the same day if they can’t catch the live broadcast, and all Paramount+ subscribers can watch the full show starting September 28, 2026. International viewers can also see it the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

More about the MTV VMAs 2026

The ceremony will also have presenters such as Charli xcx, Troye Sivan, and Paris Hilton, along with other actors and public figures. The 2026 VMAs will celebrate songs and music videos released roughly from mid-2025 to mid-2026, while also bringing together famous music stars, newer artists, special performances, tributes, and major awards in general.

MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) first launched in 1984 and have always been a big music event and feature exciting performances, fashion, unexpected moments, and strong social media attention. Traditional TV viewership has been declining over the years, but the show made a strong comeback in 2025, drawing in about 5.5 million viewers, the most in six years.

The MTV VMAs remain relevant because fans can get involved by voting and talking about it online. People are still excited by the dynamic atmosphere, surprises, red-carpet coverage, and massive social-media buzz that come with audiences consuming their entertainment across different platforms.

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