Madonna to open the 2026 Video Music Awards

Rome, 17 Sept. (LaPresse) – CBS and MTV announced today that Madonna, the artist with the most nominations of the evening, will open the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (“VMAs”) with her first live performance at the event in 23 years. The queen of pop culture returns to the “VMAs” stage in the wake of the release of her acclaimed, number-one album, *Confessions II* (Warner Records). Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the “VMAs” will be broadcast on Monday 28 September at 9.00 pm on MTV ITALIA (Sky channel 131, Sky Glass channel 122 and streaming on NOW), at 10.45 pm on Comedy Central (Sky channel 129, Sky Glass channel 121 and streaming on NOW) and will subsequently be available on Paramount+. Madonna last performed at the “VMAs” more than twenty years ago, when Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera joined her for what would become the iconic opening performance of the 2003 ceremony. The artist with the most nominations at the 2026 ‘VMAs’ heads into the ceremony with a personal record of 11 nominations and is aiming to add further awards to the 19 she has already won throughout her career. Her nominations include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. 2026 marks the third time Madonna has led the “VMAs” nominations.