Yes. Madonna is officially returning to the MTV Video Music Awards stage.
The pop icon will open the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27, marking her first live performance at the awards show in 23 years.
And the timing makes her comeback even bigger: Madonna enters the night as the most-nominated artist of the 2026 VMAs.
When Did Madonna Last Perform at the VMAs?
Madonna’s last live VMA performance was in 2003.
That opening became one of the most talked-about moments in VMA history.
Madonna performed alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, with her onstage kisses with Spears and Aguilera becoming an unforgettable pop-culture moment.
Now, 23 years later, Madonna is returning to open the show again.
Madonna Leads the 2026 VMA Nominations
This isn’t simply a nostalgia appearance.
Madonna has a career-high 11 nominations at the 2026 VMAs, more than any other artist this year.
Her nominations include major categories such as:
- Artist of the Year
- Video of the Year
- Song of the Year
Her VMA comeback follows the release of her latest album, Confessions II.
Why Madonna’s VMA Return Matters
Madonna and the VMAs have been connected for more than four decades.
At the inaugural VMAs in 1984, she delivered her famous “Like a Virgin” performance.
She followed that with memorable performances including “Express Yourself” in 1989 and “Vogue” in 1990.
Then came the headline-making 2003 performance.
That history makes her 2026 return more than another awards-show appearance.
It brings one of the artists most closely associated with the VMAs back to the stage where she created some of her most famous moments.
When Are the 2026 MTV VMAs?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards take place Sunday, September 27 in Los Angeles.
Snoop Dogg will host the ceremony.
The show will air on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the United States.
The biggest question now is simple:
What does Madonna have planned for her first VMA performance in 23 years?