How to Watch the 2026 MTV VMAs for Free, Featuring Taylor Swift's New Music Video Premiere

The 43rd annual MTV Video Music Awards are set to honor the year's best music videos on September 27. For the second consecutive year, the ceremony will be broadcast on CBS in addition to its traditional home on MTV, expanding accessibility for viewers.

Snoop Dogg, a three-time VMA winner, will host the event for the first time. He was last seen on the VMAs stage as a performer in 2022. The nominations, announced on August 18, are led by Madonna, who has tied Lady Gaga's record with 13 nominations in a single year. Taylor Swift follows with 11 nominations, Sabrina Carpenter with nine, and Ariana Grande with eight.

Swift is also set to receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. This special award will bring her VMA total to 31, making her the most-awarded individual in VMA history, surpassing Beyoncé's 30 awards. Swift's music video for her new single "Patient Zero," featuring A-listers Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, will premiere during the ceremony. "The timing made sense with the release," a source told Page Six. "She really wanted to be there and the network wanted to figure out a moment in the show that was special to her where she wasn’t just in the background so MTV made this moment happen."

Madonna, who leads this year's nominations, will open the ceremony with her first VMA performance in 23 years. Other performers include Gener8io, Yung Lean, Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Gunna, and Sienna Spiro. Kacey Musgraves is scheduled to perform a tribute to Dolly Parton, while Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims will honor George Michael with a medley.

The MTV Video Vanguard Award, typically presented to a single artist, will be given to the '90s rock band Nirvana.

The VMAs are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on September 27. The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

For those without cable, the VMAs can be streamed for free through DIRECTV, which offers a five-day free trial. CBS is included in DIRECTV's MyNews and MySports genre packs.

While the traditional VMA red carpet will not be televised, CBS Los Angeles will provide live coverage via a stream starting at 6 p.m. ET.

A total of 23 awards will be presented, with 17 determined by fan votes and the remaining by industry professionals. Categories include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Presenters announced for the event include Alex Warren, Charli XCX, Chuck D, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Emma Bunton, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Orville Peck, Paris Hilton, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla, and Troye Sivan.