VMAs Presenters Include Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Belmont Cameli, & More

The 2026 Video Music Awards are for music lovers. Despite the award show being about music, most of its presenters are more on the acting side.

The presenters for this year include Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Brandon Sklenar, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, and Tyla. However, those receiving special awards might have the award presented to them by someone close to them.

The VMAs used to air strictly on MTV, but as of 2025, they began airing on CBS as well. The VMAs will continue to simulcast in 2026.

The award show celebrates the year’s biggest artists and music videos with awards, performances, and more. Among its top honors is the Video Vanguard Award, which recognizes an artist’s career and contributions to music videos and is typically accompanied by a special performance. Winners take home the show’s iconic Moon Person trophy.

Here is everything we know about the 2026 awards.

When are the 2026 Video Music Awards?

The VMAs will air live for two hours on both coasts on Sunday, September 27, at 8/7c. For the first time since 2017, the awards will be held in Los Angeles. The awards have been held in New York and New Jersey since then.

Who is hosting the awards?

Snoop Dogg will host the VMAs for the first time. The rap mogul has been nominated for 13 VMAs and has won three times. Snoop’s previous milestone moments on the VMAs stage include a first-of-its-kind performance with Eminem inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse, a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G., closing the show with Dr. Dre and Eminem, and his main stage debut in 1994.

“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” Snoop Dogg said in a press release. “Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV – they gave hip hop a place to be loud, fearless and seen by the whole world. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me. And doing it with my brother Van Toffler makes it even more special. Van was there during those early MTV days when we were changing the culture in real time, and we’ve got a whole lot of history together. Now we get to make some new history. The VMAs have always been about those moments you don’t forget – and trust me, we’re gonna give y’all a few more. See you at the VMAs.”

Who has been nominated for the VMAs?

The nominees were announced on August 18.MadonnaandTaylor Swift lead the pack. Find out who was nominated here.

What are the social categories?

The four social categories this year include Best Group, Best Long Form Video, Best Album, and Song of the Summer. All voting for those categories will be hosted on the @MTV Instagram Story until Sunday, Sept. 27 at 11:00 AM, ET. Check out the nominees below.

Best Group
- BLACKPINK
- BTS
- CORTIS
- FLO
- Fuerza Regida
- Geese
- KATSEYE
- Twenty One Pilots
Best Long Form Video
Best Album
Song of Summer

Who is performing?

Madonna, who has the most nominations this year, will be the first performer of the night. Her last performance at the VMAs was when she performed with and kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera 23 years ago.

Shaboozey and Gunna, RAYE, Lisa, Yung Lean and GENER8ION, and Sienna Spiro will also perform.

Lisa will perform “SaWaDiKa” while RAYE makes her VMAS debut. Shaboozey will be joined by Gunna for their collab, “High Noon,” and Shaboozey’s “Cowgirl.” Other performers include Yung Lean and GENER8ION, who will debut their performance of “Storm II,” as well as Sienna Spiro.

RAYE, who is taking the stage for the first time, Sombr, and Teddy Swims will come together for a tribute performance to honor musical genius and icon George Michael. This tribute comes during the 40th anniversary of Wham!’s frontman’s album, Faith. The worldwide release of George Michael: The Faith Tour live album will be out on November 6, while the feature-length film George Michael: The Faith Tour will hit theaters on December 11.

The four-time VMA winner died on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53 due to fatty liver disease and dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis.

The awards are set to honor Dolly Parton, who died in August. Kacey Musgraves will return to the VMAs stage for the first time in five years to honor Parton. It is not clear what songs of the country icons she will perform.

Who are the presenters?

The presenters include Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Brandon Sklenar, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, and Tyla.

Will any videos premiere?

Along with Taylor Swift’s honorary award for directing, she will debut the music video for her new single, “Patient Zero.”

“Patient Zero,” along with three other songs from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, will be released on Friday, September 25. The music video for the single will premiere at the VMAs on Sunday, September 27.

Swift will star in and direct the video, alongside Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. The video was announced on CBS Mornings on September 24.

How can you vote?

Fans vote on MTV’s website and on the channel’s Instagram Story. However, some awards like the Video Vanguard and Visionary Awards are not decided by fans.

Who will receive special honors?

The VMAs give away the Video Vanguard Award and the Visionary Award. The Video Vanguard recipient has been announced as Nirvana. The Visionary Award has not yet been announced.

One of the most influential rock bands of the 1990s, Nirvana helped bring grunge into the mainstream and became one of the defining acts of the decade. Known for hits including “Come As You Are,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Lithium,” and “Heart-Shaped Box,” the band first took the VMAs stage in 1992. Nirvana will return to perform some of its biggest songs, deliver a speech, and accept the special award.

The band consists of founding members Dave Grohl andKrist Novoselic, as well as other touring members. The band disbanded after the suicide of singer Kurt Cobain in 1994.

Taylor Swift will also receive the Inaugural Artists Director’s Honor, recognizing her work for directing her music videos and short films.

Announced on September 21, the Artist Director’s Honor is a new award recognizing groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling. The MTV VMA Artist Director Honors celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.

Swift has been nominated for Best Director at the VMAs seven times and won four of those times. She has emerged as one of the most distinctive directors of her generation, using music video as an extension of her songwriting and developing a visual language that blends narrative, symbolism, humor, and autobiographical themes.

Her directing work includes videos and films such as “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “All Too Well: The Short Film,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone),” “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Karma (feat. Ice Spice)” and “Lavender Haze.” This makes Swift the most awarded solo artist in VMA history.