Brutally honest reviews of every VMAs performance, including Madonna and Raye

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards tapped one of the most legendary stars – Madonna – to open its 2026 soiree, but plenty of upstarts were on the performance docket.

From K-pop (Lisa of Blackpink) to hip-hop (Gunna) to British-pop (Raye), this year’s show generated its usual array of genre-hopping that has defined MTV.

Broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Sept. 27 – the first time the show has been held out west since 2017 – the 42nd VMAs also looked to another veteran, the inimitable Snoop Dogg, to host, who handled his duties with his signature laid-back presence.

Madonna led the nominations with 11 and took home three awards during the telecast, including artist of the year.

Taylor Swift, meanwhile, made history as the most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history with 32. Swift had been tied with Beyoncé (30 each) until taking home the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors and the final award of the show, video of the year ("The Fate of Ophelia").

Swift also used the platform to premiere her new video for “Patient Zero” starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.

Among the performance spotlight moments were tributes to the late Dolly Parton…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/