VMAs Performances Ranked: 2026’s Best & Worst

Bruno Mars is one in all right this moment’s finest stay performers – a musical dynamo and a faithful showman. However with few exceptions, it’s at all times a miss when an awards present spotlights a prerecorded, off-site efficiency. On the very least, it’s a bummer. When a efficiency is beamed in from the highway, you nearly invariably miss out on that in-venue vitality and continuity. So regardless of Mars’ wonderful voice and nice guitar soloing on “Dance With Me,” the efficiency – which seems to be to have been recorded throughout one in all Mars’ Sept. 19 or 20 exhibits in Miami — merely didn’t land on the VMAs broadcast. It felt much less like watching an ingenious awards present spectacle and extra like catching a stay efficiency clip on somebody’s social media feed. It was in all probability superior in particular person — much less so on this context.

It is a powerful one to grade. On one hand, the choreography (from Damien Jalet) is phenomenal and mesmerizing. On the opposite, it was principally simply the “Storm” video choreo transposed immediately onto the stage with out main modifications or surprises (although Lean spitting ice cream on the digicam on the finish was fairly cool). When you hadn’t seen the “Storm” video previous to the VMAs, it might need hit tougher, however should you have been accustomed to it already, this didn’t deliver a lot else to the desk.

Having Kacey Musgraves on the VMAs to salute late nation icon Dolly Parton was a superb name, however “I Will All the time Love You” is, at this level, nearly inconceivable to cowl. Musgraves is a superb singer and her twangy timbre introduced one thing candy to the music, however it’s laborious to deal with an all-timer of a tune that has not one however two GOAT recordings to its credit score. Nonetheless, it was a touching second.

Taking inspiration from films concerning the Outdated West, Shaboozey – with a sheriff’s badge affixed to his mic — hosted an previous saloon barfight for “Cowgirl” and introduced out Gunna for a (actually) fiery “Excessive Midday,” which noticed him burn the city to the bottom. The cowboy suits have been on level, the visuals have been arresting and the nation hip-hop vibe was in full impact.

Along with her stage dressed as much as appear to be a large report participant (full with an infinite LP and needle), breakout star Sienna Spiro delivered old-school cool (that metal-plated gown was giving ‘60s stylish with shades of Jane Birkin) on “Nice Expectation.” It appears odd to name a gig with a large report participant understated, however with minimal motion, Spiro’s efficiency was simply that, putting the give attention to her vocal prowess and her stay, in-house band. Her mic was very a lot on, and we’re all higher off for it.

LISA pulled out all of the stops for “SaWaDiKa,” a tribute to her native Thailand. Flanked by the Bangkok skyline, LISA and her dancers executed some rapid-fire, jaw-dropping choreography earlier than bringing out a tuk-tuk to spin doughnuts/whip sh-tties whereas rapping her verses with verve and sass. Energetic, assured and exhilarating.

As is her wont, RAYE hit the VMAs stage with the mic turned on and the footwear kicked off. Surrounded by violinists, she trotted out a little bit of “I Will Overcome” in a luxe white fur coat earlier than shedding the fuzz for a red-drenched efficiency of her breakout hit “The place Is My Husband!” with a little bit of “Funky City” tossed in for enjoyable. RAYE is an astonishing stay vocalist who effortlessly channels old-school glam, making her an irresistible stage presence and a delight to look at.

Except for the truth that there’s a live performance documentary from George Michael’s Religion Tour hitting theaters this November (and clearly he’s an MTV icon), there didn’t appear to be a lot of a information peg for the VMAs to host a tribute to the late pop star at this 12 months’s present. However when an all-star tribute hits all the precise notes, who cares? Sombr (sporting a custom-made model of the leather-based jacket Michael wore on his Religion Tour) deftly bought “Religion” and “Father Determine”; RAYE dazzled with a tackle Michael’s Aretha Franklin duet “I Knew You Have been Ready for Me”; Teddy Swims shocked with an outstanding model of “Careless Whisper”; and Adam Lambert introduced the queer excellence for “Freedom! ‘90” alongside MNEK, MEEK and Saint Harison, which felt appropriately passionate and liberating. It was a reminder how nice Michael’s music stays, how influential he was and the way sorely he’s missed.

No dwelling legend is extra related to the MTV VMAs than Madonna, so for the Queen of Pop to open the 2026 VMAs was becoming – however it additionally meant that expectations have been excessive, particularly after the published delay. However Madonna being Madonna, she was greater than as much as the problem. It began understated, with Madonna sitting on prime of a Yamaha piano with Sabrina Carpenter on the keys for his or her “Convey Your Love” duet, constructed momentum with a gospel choir segue and climaxed with the sleazy public restroom fantasia of the “Danceteria Afterhours” remix. Charli xcx spat her come-up story; Sombr strutted his stuff; Fab 5 Freddy basked in his lyric shout-out; leather-based daddy Seth Rogen smoked a cig; Danceteria OG Debi Mazar swung via; and Julie Garner rocked a Reality or Dare-era look.

Yep. That is the way you begin the occasion.