Snoop Dogg will host, Madonna will open, Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, while Dolly Parton and George Michael will be honored with special musical tributes.
While Snoop Dogg is no stranger to the VMAs, having made his performance debut in 1994, the 2026 awards show marks his very first time serving as host. This year’s Video Music Awards will be broadcast on Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET on both CBS and MTV, available to stream live with any service that carries either of the two networks, namely DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Philo (with a seven-day free trial), Fubo (with a one-day free trial) or Hulu + Live TV.
Alternatively, the 2026 VMAs will stream live with a Paramount+ Premium subscription or the following day with Paramount+ Essential, and while the service no longer offers a free trial of its own, Paramount+ Premium is currently complimentary for three months with DirecTV’s Entertainment, Choice or Ultimate Signature packages. Alternatively, the Premier package, DirecTV’s top-tier Signature package, includes Paramount+ Premium at no extra cost as part of its premium channel lineup. These are both on top of DirecTV’s standard five-day free trial.
At a Glance: How to Watch the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards
- When: Sunday, Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: CBS, MTV
- Stream online: DirecTV, Philo, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV; available to stream next day with Paramount+ Essential or live with Paramount+ Premium (which is also available via DirecTV, included in its free trial)
Where to Watch VMAs 2026: Air Date, Time, Channel
The 2026 MTV VMAs air live on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET on both MTV and CBS.
Where to Stream VMAs 2026 Live Online
Since the awards show airs on CBS and MTV, it will also be available to watch live on any streaming service that carries either of the noted networks, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Philo (with a seven-day free trial), Fubo (with a one-day free trial) or Hulu + Live TV.
The VMAs will also be available to stream live and on demand with a Paramount+ Premium subscription or the following day with Paramount+ Essential. While the service no longer offers a free trial of its own, customers can claim three complimentary months of Paramount+ Premium (and a host of other add-ons) with DirecTV’s Entertainment, Choice or Ultimate packages, which also offer the aforementioned five-day free trial period. Alternatively, the Premier package, DirecTV’s top-tier package, includes Paramount+ indefinitely as part of its standard streaming lineup.
