VMAs Move to CBS Simulcast, Ending MTV Exclusivity After Four Decades

Cord-cutters who want to watch the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards live no longer need a traditional cable package. The ceremony, hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airs Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on both CBS and MTV, and can be streamed through Paramount+ Premium or free trials from DirecTV, Philo, and Fubo, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

Paramount+ Premium subscribers get the live local CBS affiliate feed and on-demand viewing through the end of the day on Sept. 27. Paramount+ Essential subscribers must wait until Monday, Sept. 28, when the show becomes available on demand across all plans. DirecTV offers a five-day free trial for new users, Philo a seven-day trial, Fubo a one-day trial, and Hulu + Live TV a three-day trial, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The 2026 ceremony marks the first time the VMAs have been held in Los Angeles since 2017, when Katy Perry hosted from the Forum in Inglewood. Madonna opens the show in her first VMA performance since 2003, when she shared the stage with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Kacey Musgraves leads a tribute to Dolly Parton, and Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims honor George Michael, according to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

Taylor Swift receives the inaugural Artist Director Honors, which MTV and CBS say recognizes "creating interconnected narratives, cinematic worlds and recurring details that invite audiences deeper into each project." Swift enters the night tied with Beyoncé at 30 career VMAs, and the honor will give her 31 wins, making her the most awarded person in VMAs history, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Madonna leads nominations with 11, followed by Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each. Nirvana receives the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, announced on Sept. 9, the 34th anniversary of the band's 1992 VMA performance. The Best Dance category returns after a seven-year absence, and first-time nominees include CORTIS, Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro, and Yung Lean, according to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

The red carpet pre-show begins at 6 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV. Rolling Stone reports that music's biggest names flocked to the Peacock Theater to show off extravagant fashion, continuing the VMAs' tradition of viral red carpet moments.