Pop icon Madonna is all set to return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage after 23 years, with the Queen of Pop set to open the 2026 ceremony with her first live performance at the show since 2003, MTV and CBS announced Wednesday, as reported by People.
Madonna, 68, last performed at the VMAs in 2003, when she opened the show alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott. The performance featured a medley of "Hollywood", "Like a Virgin" and "Passenger", along with Madonna's now-famous onstage kisses with Spears and Aguilera. More than two decades later, Madonna is set to make her much-awaited return to the VMA stage. The comeback comes in a major year for the pop star, who leads all artists with 11 nominations at this year's VMAs. Her nominations include Artist of the Year, Video of the Year for "Confessions II - The Film" and Song of the Year for "Bring Your Love", featuring Sabrina Carpenter.
Madonna enters the ceremony with 19 competitive VMA wins and will look to add to her tally. She has previously led the VMAs' nominations three times, earning nine nominations for "Vogue" in 1990 and another nine for "Ray of Light" and "Frozen" in 1998, according to People.
Her return also follows the release of "Confessions II", her critically acclaimed No. 1 album and 15th studio set. Released on July 3, the album marks Madonna's long-awaited follow-up to her 2005 classic "Confessions on a Dance Floor". The album sees the singer reflecting on family, loss, love and her early years as an artist, according to People. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET (4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ in the US.The ceremony will be available globally on Paramount+ and MTV the following day. (ANI)
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