Madonna is set to open the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27th, marking her first performance at the show in 23 years. Her last time on that stage was 2003, when she performed alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and delivered one of the most talked-about moments in pop culture history.
The timing lines up with a massive year for her. Madonna earned a career-high 11 nominations for the 2026 show, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year, all supporting her new album Confessions II. She already holds 19 VMAs and made history in 1986 as the first solo female artist to win the Video Vanguard Award.
The night is stacked beyond Madonna, too. Snoop Dogg is hosting, and Nirvana will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award, with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic’s attendance still unconfirmed. So which are you more excited for: Madonna’s opening number, or a possible Nirvana reunion on that stage? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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