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Madonna to Open MTV Video Music Awards After 23-Year Absence
Confirmed
In Short: Madonna will make her first live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 23 years, breaking a tie with Rihanna as the artist who has opened the most VMAs telecasts.
Madonna will make her first live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 23 years, marking a significant moment in the history of the awards show. This year, she will open the 2026 VMAs, a milestone that enables her to break a tie with Rihanna as the artist who has opened the most VMAs telecasts. According to reports, it will be Madonna's fifth time opening the show, a feat that includes performances in 1989, 1993, 1998, and now 2026.
Madonna is this year's leading VMAs nominee, with a career-high 11 nominations, including nods for video of the year, artist of the year, and song of the year. This marks the third time she has led VMAs nominations. Her return to the stage for the VMAs is particularly noteworthy, as it comes after a 23-year absence, making it a highly anticipated event for fans and industry insiders alike.
Madonna's performance will be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV, and Spotify has partnered with the VMAs as the official audio streaming partner for the event. The collaboration connects fans directly with Madonna's music post-performance and features exclusive content, including archival footage from past VMAs. This partnership promises to extend the event beyond the live broadcast, offering fans a deeper dive into Madonna's career.
According to Jeffrey Ingold, a music journalist, Madonna's return to the VMAs is a significant moment in the music industry. 'It will be the icon's record-breaking fifth time opening the show that made her a star,' Ingold said. 'This performance is not just about Madonna; it's about the history and legacy of the VMAs.
Despite the absence of support acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, who pulled out to voice support for Macklemore, the VMAs remain focused on celebrating the best in music. Madonna's performance is expected to be a highlight of the evening, with her history-making opening act setting the tone for the rest of the awards show.
What's confirmed
- Madonna will make her first live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 23 years, marking a significant moment in the history of the awards show. This year, she will open the 2026 VMAs, a milestone that enables her to break a tie with Rihanna as the artist who has opened the most VMAs telecasts. According to reports, it will be Madonna's fifth time opening the show, a feat that includes performances in 1989, 1993, 1998, and now 2026.
- Madonna is this year's leading VMAs nominee, with a career-high 11 nominations, including nods for video of the year, artist of the year, and song of the year. This marks the third time she has led VMAs nominations. Her return to the stage for the VMAs is particularly noteworthy, as it comes after a 23-year absence, making it a highly anticipated event for fans and industry insiders alike.
- Madonna's performance will be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV, and Spotify has partnered with the VMAs as the official audio streaming partner for the event. The collaboration connects fans directly with Madonna's music post-performance and features exclusive content, including archival footage from past VMAs. This partnership promises to extend the event beyond the live broadcast, offering fans a deeper dive into Madonna's career.
- According to Jeffrey Ingold, a music journalist, Madonna's return to the VMAs is a significant moment in the music industry. 'It will be the icon's record-breaking fifth time opening the show that made her a star,' Ingold said. 'This performance is not just about Madonna; it's about the history and legacy of the VMAs.
- Despite the absence of support acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, who pulled out to voice support for Macklemore, the VMAs remain focused on celebrating the best in music. Madonna's performance is expected to be a highlight of the evening, with her history-making opening act setting the tone for the rest of the awards show.
What's still developing
- Music journalist Jeffrey Ingold said Sheeran's apparent acceptance of the decision to drop Macklemore seemed like "cowardice".
- Today, he runs a charity providing music lessons to under-18s in his home county of Suffolk.
- Madonna, of course, has been making history at the VMAs since the very first show, in 1984, when her audacious performance of “Like a Virgin” became a groundbreaking pop-culture moment.
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- It will be her first live performance at the show since 2003, since she teamed with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott to open the show.
- Madonna previously opened the show in 1989 (“Express Yourself”), 1993 (a gender-bending “Bye Bye Baby”) and 1998 (“Shanti/Astangi,” “Ray of Light” with Lenny Kravitz ).
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