Live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, Snoop Dogg hosts the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+!

This year’s VMAs are not to be missed. Not only will Taylor Swift receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, but her music video for her new single “Patient Zero” will also make its world premiere during the show. The music video is directed by Taylor and stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

The 2026 show will begin with Madonna returning to the VMAs stage for the first time since 2003 and will also feature Kacey Musgraves paying tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton. Adding to the fun, RAYE, Sombr, and Teddy Swims will come together to honor George Michael, with additional performances by GENER8ION, Yung Lean, LISA, Shaboozey, Gunna, SIENNA SPIRO, and more.

Madonna earned the most nominations this year (11), followed by Taylor Swift (9), Ariana Grande (7), and Sabrina Carpenter (7). And none for Gretchen Weiners, bye.

You won’t want to miss a minute of the action, so here’s how to watch the 2026 VMAs live online for free.

What Time/Channel Are The MTV VMAs On Tonight (September 27)?

The VMAs officially begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS, MTV, and for Paramount+ Essential subscribers. Can’t watch live? Encore presentations will air at 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET on MTV.

How To Watch The 2026 MTV VMAs on TV and Online For Free:

If you have a valid cable login, you can watch the show live on CBS, MTV, or the CBS website. There’s also a variety of over-the-top streaming services that offer CBS… like DIRECTV.

The only way to watch shows airing live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. Our favorite is DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.

DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Packs start at $19.99/month.

You can also stream the VMAs with an active subscription to Philo ($25/month and a seven-day free trial), fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV. All the aforementioned services offer a free trial for new subscribers.

How To Watch The 2026 VMAs 2026 On Paramount+:

The VMAs will air live for Paramount+ Premium subscribers ($13.99/month) and be available for next-day streaming for Paramount+ Essential subscribers ($8.99/month).

Paramount+ offers two subscription plans, Essential and Premium. Right now, you can get started with a seven-day free trial on the Premium plan.

The ad-supported Essential plan typically costs $8.99/month, while the ad-free Premium plan (which comes with Showtime titles and live CBS) costs $13.99/month.

Paramount+ Free Trial Info:

While Paramount+ doesn’t directly offer a free trial, you can sample the streamer by adding Paramount+ to your Prime Video or Hulu accounts for an additional $13.99/month. You can also purchase Paramount+ through YouTube, which offers a free trial.