VMAs 2026 LIVE: All the action as Madonna returns and Taylor Swift makes history
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Welcome to the MTV VMAs 2026 live blog
It’s VMA day!
Yes, that’s right, music is back on MTV and we’ll be with you as the industry’s biggest names hit the red carpet and beyond.
Madonna has already returned to the VMA stage for the first time in more than two decades, while Taylor Swift is set to debut her Patient Zero music video and make history as the first-ever recipient of the Artist Director Honors.
Plus, prepare your tissues now, because Kasey Musgraves will lead a tribute to the legendary Dolly Parton.
The show kicked off at 9.30am AEST - see all the action from the night as it happens below.
Bruno Mars performs - sort of
We’re not long into the awards but why not give everyone in the room a break, hey?
The show has dialled in to Bruno Mars’ current tour to watch him perform Dance With Me in front of his stadium audience.
It’s schmaltzy and has a guitar solo. Sure, why not?
Raye takes her search for a husband to the VMA stage
Our next performance is from British rising star Raye and HOLY VOCALS.
She began with a stripped down version of I Will Overcome before launching into the main event, Where Is My Husband!
Deeply respect her husband-hunting on the world’s biggest stages. Kevin Winter/Getty
A fun performance for a very fun song!
The first award of the night
Congrats Lisa! Kevin Winter/Getty
Blackpink’s LISA has first bragging rights!
She’s taken out Best Pop for her song Dream, proving that K-pop fans are the most powerful in the biz.
Seriously, it was a stacked category – she’s beaten Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX and Tate McRae.
Madonna opens with a very sexy performance
Football is over and MADONNA IS BACK.
The legend opened the show and of course, she had a couple of surprises.
Sabrina Carpenter! Charli XCX! Julia Garner! Sombr! Wait a minute, Seth Rogen!?
What an opener! MTV/Paramount+
Icons! MTV/Paramount+
More icons! MTV/Paramount+
She and Sabrina got the crowd to their feet with their dancefloor anthem collab, Bring Your Love, from Madonna’s latest album Confessions II.
Then Charli joined her for their remix of Danceteria, alongside stars Seth Rogen, Sombr and Julia Garner (who was tipped to play Madonna in a biopic!)
It was a very saucy show, because duh. This is Madonna!
Host Snoop Dogg is on stage
… But we’re still waiting.
Photos show the host for the night addressing the crowd in the room, but no luck for those of us a home.
He’s on stage, we just can’t see him. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Congrats to the Ravens who beat the Cowboys in the looong footy game that’s caused this delay, but LET’S GET TO THE SHOW.
We have a small delay...
It’s here, it’s happening … almost.
We are moments away from Madonna taking to the stage but there’s been a bit of a delay.
The VMAs official X account confirmed it’s due to an NFL game still playing, so we can officially blame football!
MTV is playing a disclaimer while they pad for time with past VMA highlights: “The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will begin shortly. Stay tuned!”
OK, fiiiine. We’ll be here waiting…
Taylor Swift is here!
FINALLY.
Taylor Swift has graced the carpet and gotta say, I’m obsessed.
Sparkles, draping, a sheer, lace up back, THE HAIRCUT.
Finally. Getty Images
Worth the wait. Thanks Tay!
Still waiting for the women of the hour...
We’re still very impatiently waiting for the night’s biggest stars.
The arrivals have fully slowed down now but neither Madonna nor Taylor Swift have been spotted yet.
Madonna is opening the show, so she probably won’t walk the carpet, but Swift is still coming – we hope!
The carpet is almost over, but she’s, well, she’s Taylor Swift, so a last-minute or late arrival isn’t out of the question.
Music’s newest nepo baby
You might not recognise this man by face but how about by name?
It’s Magnus Paulin Ferrell. No? Ferrell. As in comedic genius, Hollywood chaos agent Will Ferrell.
That’s his son! Getty
Magnus is his eldest son and makes (honestly, pretty good) R&B, soul-inspired music. The opposite of what you’d imagine a Ferrell tune to sound like, basically.
It’s clearly working well for him too, because he’s nominated for Best New Artist tonight.
2026, year of the ... torso?
This red carpet’s biggest accessory? Abs.
As a millennial, I always knew bringing back low rise jeans was a slippery slope and look at us now!
There are tummies on display left, right and centre on this red carpet, proving that in 2026 it is alllll about the torso.
Charli XCX was giving Morticia vibes in this outfit. Frazer Harrison/Getty
JoJo arrives at the ceremony. Getty Images
Just when you thought we were all torso’d out! Frazer Harrison/Getty
Even Sombr has gotten in on the action, going shirtless underneath a big ol’ fur coat.
He added an X-rated accessory … a big belt buckle that says “SEX”. Just, ya know, because.
Sombr let his belt do the talking. Frazer Harrison/Getty
