Madonna Reclaims the VMAs: 7 Wins and a Show-Stopping Opening Set With Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 — Madonna is the reigning queen of the MTV Video Music Awards — arguably more iconic VMAs moments than anyone, all the way back to "Like A Virgin" at the first ceremony in 1984. But until last Sunday, she hadn't performed at the VMAs in 23 years. That streak ended in smoke, lasers, and flashing lights at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where the 68-year-old opened the 2026 ceremony with an 8-minute Confessions II medley — and then spent the rest of the night collecting seven trophies.

It was, by the numbers, her record-breaking fifth VMAs performance, staged on a night when she led the field with 13 nominations. She opened the medley atop a piano as Sabrina Carpenter performed "Bring Your Love," their Confessions II duet, under green lasers and handheld cameras echoing Confessions II — The Film. Carpenter then exited as Madonna was moved through the crowd on a platform, transitioning into a club-style section with uniformed dancers and a brief choral break.

Then came Charli xcx. The medley shifted into "Danceteria" as Charli joined Madonna onstage for her remix, and the set turned into a bathroom inspired by an early-eighties New York club — complete with a mural of Lou Reed's Transformer cover as the group sang the "Walk on the Wild Side" hook. It was a deliberate thesis statement: Madonna later said the "Danceteria" section was meant to highlight her early New York years and the role dance culture played in shaping her career. "Dance brings everybody together," she said. "We are all equal on the dance floor."

A cast of collaborators

The opener was stuffed with cameos. Julia Garner — who was set to play Madonna in her scrapped biopic — appeared onstage, alongside The Studio creator and star Seth Rogen (Madonna and Garner will reportedly reference the biopic storyline in the show's upcoming season), Andrew Watt, Sombr, Debi Mazar, and Gabbriette. Additional reporting named Fab 5 Freddy and Tony Ward among the onstage faces. The ceremony, hosted by Snoop Dogg, aired live Sunday night on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streamed on Paramount+ — kicking off after a delay caused by the Baltimore Ravens–Dallas Cowboys game.

The guest list mattered. The Charli xcx appearance officially buried any perceived beef between the two — a narrative that had already been softened by a "Danceteria" remix collaboration and a pack of smokes, per Stereogum. And Carpenter's slot carried its own headline: she performed the very duet that would win Best Collaboration later that night.

The direct-message acceptance speech

The night's most viral moment wasn't a performance at all. Accepting Best Collaboration, Madonna cheekily outed Carpenter, revealing she hadn't heard back from Carpenter's team for five days about a potential collaboration — and then direct-messaged the singer herself.

"This is a true story, and she answered me back and, I don't know, within weeks we were in the studio together, and it was fabulous," Madonna said, according to the Detroit Free Press. Carpenter, laughing, replied that her team is a responsive group — but that contacting her directly is the best way to reach her. The charming, slightly chaotic exchange lit up social media, and it was peak Madonna: 43 years into the business, the Queen of Pop still slides into DMs like an up-and-coming producer.

Seven trophies, 27 total

By night's end, Madonna had taken home seven awards, including the biggest honor of the evening, Artist of the Year — beating out Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, and Morgan Wallen. The other confirmed wins: Best Dance, for the Confessions II short film, and Best Collaboration, for "Bring Your Love" with Carpenter. She now holds 27 VMA awards overall.

Her acceptance speeches were studded with off-script moments, including a joke about her mic stand and a thank-you to her fingers — "because I can always count on them," she said, per uInterview's reporting.

Swift, BTS, and a Parton tribute

Madonna was the night's biggest winner, but she wasn't the only history-maker. Taylor Swift — second-most decorated with three awards — won Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," which she wrote and directed, and dedicated the win to Dolly Parton. Swift also became the first recipient of the new Artist Director Honors, presented by her friend Dakota Johnson, and won Best Direction for "Opalite." With the night's wins, Swift reached 33 career VMAs. Following her Artist Director Honors acceptance, she premiered the video for her new single "Patient Zero," which she directed and stars in alongside Johnson and Colin Farrell.

Elsewhere: BTS won Song of the Year for "Swim," Sienna Spiro took Best New Artist, and LISA won Best Pop for "Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi." Kacey Musgraves delivered the night's emotional peak for country fans, channeling Dolly Parton in tribute to the late icon — singing "I Will Always Love You" one month after Parton's death.

Not everyone on X was convinced by Madonna's opener — a few fans called it a "train wreck" and "cringeworthy," criticizing lip-sync and awkward moves. Plenty more gushed: "I'm proud of Madonna. That was a great performance & great showcase of the creative vision of the album. THEE QUEEN," wrote one. At 68, performing at the VMAs for the first time in 23 years on a night she also swept the awards, Madonna proved the larger point: she still owns this stage. Her record fifth VMAs performance, 13 nominations, seven wins, and 27 career Moon Persons later, the queen's crown is exactly where she left it.

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