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

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

Key points

• Among the performance spotlight moments were tributes to the late Dolly Parton by Kacey Musgraves and George Michael by Sombr, Raye, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert.
• "Storm" from Gener8ion (aka French producer Surkin) has been celebrated for its riveting video featuring Swedish rapper Yung Lean.
• Swift additionally employed the platform to premiere her new video for "Patient Zero" starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
• 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.

For context, 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.

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 additionally looked to another veteran, the inimitable Snoop Dogg, to host. This person 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, created 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").

Among the performance spotlight moments were tributes to the late Dolly Parton by Kacey Musgraves and George Michael by Sombr, Raye, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert. Here's how the live offerings fared. GENER8ION and Yung Lean.

Notably, the four-time VMA nominee this year was presented as a recreation of its dystopian boarding school backdrop.

Yung Lean stood still in a white button down and loosened tie as a rows of suit-clad dancers swayed, writhed and zigzagged in slow motion. Strobe lights enhanced the visual feast that concluded with the lockstep troop in frozen positions that melted into arms straight at their sides, like schoolboy soldiers.

Best new artist winner – obviously making her VMAs debut – Spiro channeled her inner Amy Winehouse to sway through "Great Expectation, " her soul-pop offering from her debut album, "Visitor, " published in July.

Standing atop a cool set designed like an album, the British songstress belted her blend of soul and pop (could she and Raye start their own new British Invasion?) with confidence and elegance. Expect to see Spiro on plenty of an award show stage going forward.

One fourth of Blackpink, Lisa has celebrated a breakout solo career since the release of her 2025 album debut, "Alter Ego." She brought a combination of art pop and rave up to "SaWaDiKa, " the first single from her EP "Press Play, " out Oct. 23.

Notably, the song, which means "hello" in Thai, was unfurled with hyperactive spirit as Lisa glided throughout the set with her headset on and her dancers eagerly bouncing around her during the song's chanting chorus.

Meanwhile, the crisp dancing impressed, but the performance confused excitement with indistinguishable frenzy.

In perhaps the best merging of set and song, Shaboozey's Wild West barroom perfectly suited his twangy, shuffling "Cowgirl." With biceps bared and cowboy hatted, Shaboozey wove through simulated bar fights and strutted outside this sepia-toned saloon to launch into "High Noon."

His partner on the clip-clop, hip-hop crossover hit, Gunna, rolled in on a stagecoach, clad in a long leather coat to match Shaboozey's.

As the pair loped through the song, the bar behind them erupted in flames as the duo shared a handshake and blew some kisses as the flames flicked behind them.

Since Dolly Parton's Aug. 25 death, there has been no shortage of well-meaning tributes. While Musgraves was perfectly suited to pay homage to the country icon, the fact that she chose "I Will Always Love You" was both surprising and stirring.

We've become so applied to either Parton's sweet-spoken original (video footage of her singing the ballad opened the segment) or Whitney Houston's full-throttle remake, that hearing Musgraves' soft, husky vocals initially sounded disconcerting.

But this gentle version, backed by piano and (unseen) strings, was elegant and touching. Musgraves even brought tribute vibes to her outfit – a sparkly gown with wrist feathers, cats-eye makeup and her long hair brushed into a retro style. Parton no doubt would approve.

For context, the exquisite British songstress created her VMAs performance debut surrounded by a cadre of violin players as she belted bits of "I Will Overcome" while clad in a long, white fur coat.

But within moments, the outerwear dropped to spotlight a Raye clad in a clingy red dress – and her usual bare feet – surrounded by her fantastic major band, all matching the crimson stage and lighting.

Flanked by her two wingwomen, Raye burst into her breakthrough smash, "Where is My Husband!, " the trio wagging ring fingers and slaying with vocals both potent and charismatic. The rendition of the song purposely slowed in bits to enhance the drama of the always captivating Raye.

MTV icon Madonna opened her eight-minute performance by proclaiming, "It's mother." before bouncing into a "Confessions II"-heavy set filled with smoke, lasers, a gospel choir and plenty of celebrity guests.

Madonna emerged atop a piano being played by Sabrina Carpenter, her partner on hit "Bring Your Love." The pair scampered through the song – Madonna flinging her long blond hair, Carpenter in a signature glitter-shorts outfit – before Madonna unveiled her own red ensemble as she writhed on a table that encircled a gospel choir for reasons not entirely clear.

But Carpenter wasn't the only pop starlet Madonna invited to the party.

Charlie XCX, tossing a cigarette as she strode out in sunglasses and fishnets, sashayed with Madonna through a "Danceteria" filled with nods to Madonna's history – and a "was that Seth Rogen?" cameo (yes, it was). From the bathroom hand dryer (hi, "Desperately Seeking Susan") to a platform of dancers dressed as Madonna through her numerous incarnations, the nods were obvious and fun, particularly the snippet of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" – a fitting wink to Madonna's mirror ball ode to New York City. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, brutally honest reviews of every VMAs performance, including Madonna and Raye is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.