Madonna is officially opening the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27 at 8pm ET, marking her first performance at the ceremony in twenty-three years. Her last appearance on that stage was 2003, the night she kissed Britney Spears and gave the VMAs one of the most talked-about moments in its history.
She arrives with serious momentum behind her.‘Confessions II’earned her eleven nominations this year, the most of any artist, including Video, Artist and Song of the Year. Taylor Swift follows with nine, while Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, BTS, Olivia Dean and Raye round out the top tier of nominees.
For anyone keeping score at home, Madonna’s VMA résumé reads like a greatest hits of pop culture itself: the 1984‘Like A Virgin’debut in the wedding dress, 1990’s‘Vogue’, and that 2003 moment. Opening the show in 2026 adds a whole new chapter to a story that already spans four decades.
What song do you want her to open with? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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