The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, broadcasting live from Los Angeles. Count down to music's flashiest night on our live MTV VMAs countdown.
When are the 2026 MTV VMAs?
The VMAs do not have a fixed calendar date — the show floats between late August and September each year — but MTV has confirmed the 2026 ceremony for Sunday, September 27. It marks the first time the awards have returned to Los Angeles since 2017.
How to watch the 2026 VMAs
The ceremony airs live across MTV and CBS, with streaming on Paramount+. As ever, the night is built around live performances as much as the trophies — expect A-list sets, surprise team-ups and viral red-carpet moments, plus the Video Vanguard career honour.
About the Moon Person
- First held: 1984, making the VMAs one of music's longest-running awards shows.
- The trophy: the "Moon Person," an astronaut planting an MTV flag.
- Top categories: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
- Famous for: unscripted, headline-making live moments year after year.
Count down to the VMAs
Open the live MTV VMAs countdown for the exact days, hours and minutes until showtime, browse more countdown tools, or create your own countdown for any awards show.