Madonna Returns to VMAs Stage After 23 Years, Opening Show With Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX

The performance, which featured Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, marked the pop icon's first VMAs set since her infamous 2003 appearance with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, according to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. Carpenter, clad in a black-and-white ensemble, played the opening chords of "Bring Your Love" on piano while Madonna hovered above her. The acoustic introduction quickly transformed into a dance-floor rave, with dancers helping Madonna strip her black costume into a maroon leotard reminiscent of the 2005 Confessions on a Dance Floor album cover.

The transition into "Danceteria" brought Charli XCX onstage for their recently released remix, "Danceteria Afterhours," with a set recreating the bathroom dance party from the Confessions II short film, Billboard reported. The bathroom-themed segment included cameos from Debi Mazar, Julia Garner, Seth Rogen, and Fab 5 Freddy, according to Billboard. Pitchfork noted that Sombr and Garner also appeared, with Rogen smoking a joint during the performance.

The staging included a dancer clad in Keith Haring's signature symbols, a nod to Haring's mention in the "Danceteria" lyrics. Madonna entered the night as the most-nominated artist with 13 nods, a personal best and tied with Lady Gaga's 16-year-old record for most nominations in a single night, according to Billboard. The discrepancy reflects the addition of four social categories announced on September 18, which brought Madonna's total to 13.

She won seven awards, including artist of the year, best dance for the Confessions II short film, and best collaboration for "Bring Your Love" with Carpenter, Billboard reported. During her acceptance speech for best collaboration, Madonna explained how the song came together. "Everybody who knows me knows how impatient I am. When five days passed, and I still didn't hear back from Sabrina about whether she wanted to do a song with me, I DM'd her," she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Carpenter responded, "My team replies, just so everybody knows. They do respond, but I respond faster, so direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact."

The 2026 VMAs, hosted by Snoop Dogg, aired live on CBS and MTV and streamed on Paramount+ from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET. Other performers included Kacey Musgraves, who paid tribute to Dolly Parton, and LISA, who won best pop for "Dream" featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi before taking the stage as the first K-pop artist to perform solo at the VMAs, according to Pitchfork. Madonna returned to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in 23 years on Sunday night, opening the 2026 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with a medley of "Bring Your Love" and "Danceteria Afterhours."