How to Stream the VMAs Live Online

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

The MTV Video Music Awards return Sunday night with one of the show’s biggest lineups in years, including Madonna’s first VMA performance in more than two decades, a Dolly Parton tribute from Kacey Musgraves and the world premiere of a new Taylor Swift music video.

The 2026 MTV VMAs air live Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will broadcast on CBS and simulcast on MTV, while cord-cutters can stream the entire show live on Paramount+. However, cable-cutters can stream the VMAs live online on DirecTV, currently offering a 5-day trial.

Snoop Dogg will host this year’s VMAs, which return to Los Angeles for the first time since 2017. Madonna, the night’s most-nominated artist with 11 nods, is set to open the show with her first VMA performance in 23 years, marking her first live appearance on the awards stage since her memorable 2003 performance alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

The performance lineup also includes LISA, RAYE, Shaboozey, Gunna, Sienna Spiro, GENER8ION and Yung Lean. LISA will give the television debut of her new single “SaWaDiKa,” while GENER8ION and Yung Lean will premiere “STORM II” onstage. Shaboozey, meanwhile, will perform “Cowgirl” before being joined by Gunna for the first broadcast performance of their collaboration “High Noon.” RAYE and Sienna Spiro will both make their VMAs performance debuts.

One of the night’s most anticipated moments will be a special tribute to Dolly Parton, with Musgraves returning to the VMAs stage for her first performance at the ceremony in five years. Musgraves, who is nominated this year for best country for “Dry Spell,” will perform in honor of the country music icon.

There will also be a tribute to George Michael featuring RAYE, sombr and Teddy Swims, while Nirvana will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award, 34 years after the band first performed at the VMAs in 1992.

Swift will have an especially busy night. In addition to receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors — a new award recognizing musicians whose directing work has advanced music video storytelling — she will debut the music video for her new single “Patient Zero” during the telecast. Swift directed the video, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

The honor recognizes Swift’s increasingly expansive body of work behind the camera, including videos for “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Fortnight” and “The Fate of Ophelia,” as well as “All Too Well: The Short Film.” Swift enters this year’s ceremony with nine nominations.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards air live Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on CBS and MTV. Stream the VMAs live online on DirecTV.