Madonna Opens 2026 MTV VMAs With a Bang, LISA Takes First Award
NEW YORK, USA — The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards kicked off with a moment fans will not soon forget. Madonna, the undisputed queen of pop, opened the show with her new single Bring Your Love alongside Sabrina Carpenter, and the first words from her lips were simply: It's mother.
For Filipino fans watching live from across the Pacific, it was a night of pride and spectacle. Blackpink's LISA, the Thai-born K-pop sensation beloved in the Philippines, took home her first-ever VMA for Best Pop for Dream featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.
Thank you MTV for this amazing award, LISA said, visibly emotional. All those late-night dreams brought me here today.
The two-hour ceremony, broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, was delayed 20 minutes by a tight NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. But once it started, it wasted no time getting heart rates up.
What happened during Madonna's opening performance?
Madonna aimed to bring the dance floor to the award show stage, and she delivered. Charli xcx emerged from a club bathroom to join the reworked version of Danceteria, surrounded by dancers and famous friends including actor Debi Mazar, Sombr, and Julia Garner.
Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMA nominee and three-time winner, hosted the night. Now that is an icon, he said of Madonna, before cracking a joke: She ain't a virgin no more.
How many VMAs has Taylor Swift won?
Taylor Swift is set to make history at this year's ceremony. Earlier this week, it was announced she will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.
Swift entered the night tied with Beyoncé at 30 wins each. (Eminem holds the record for most VMAs among male artists with 15.) The new award recognizes artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling, bringing her total to 31.
She will also debut the music video for her new song, Patient Zero, which she directed. The visual stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Patient Zero is her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.
Who are the top nominees at the 2026 VMAs?
Madonna leads the nominations with 11 nods, including video, artist, and song of the year, plus best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects. She has 19 competitive VMA wins and in 1986 became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, including video and artist of the year, best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography, and visual effects.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earned seven nods. Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson have five each. LISA has four, while Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION, and Yung Lean are tied at three.
Who performed at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
Madonna's opener marked her first VMA performance in 23 years. Later in the night, Kacey Musgraves paid homage to the late Dolly Parton, who died in Nashville of cancer in August at age 80. The country icon rose from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to global stardom.
Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims paid tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53. Raye also performed solo, pulling double duty.
Other performers included GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, and LISA alongside Sienna Spiro.
Who presented at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
Presenters included Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Tyla, and Troye Sivan.
The VMAs are simulcast on MTV and available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. For Filipino fans, the show is a reminder that music remains a universal language, bridging Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, and New York in one unforgettable night.