Madonna Wins 3 Top VMAs as 2026 Show Exposes MTV's Relevance Problem
Updated
Updated · GQ · Sep 28
Madonna Wins 3 Top VMAs as 2026 Show Exposes MTV's Relevance Problem
3 articles · Updated · GQ · Sep 28
Summary
Three major Madonna wins and one of the night's strongest performances turned the 2026 VMAs into a legacy showcase rather than a snapshot of current pop.
That disconnect stood out because several of the moment's hottest acts were absent, including Ella Langley and Adéla, while hip-hop presence was thin beyond host Snoop Dogg and a Gunna guest verse.
Most performances were competent—Kacey Musgraves' Dolly Parton tribute, Yung Lean's set and Nirvana's speech drew praise—but the broadcast still felt inert and inessential.
A 20-minute start delay caused by an overtime NFL game underscored the broader point: a show that once drove pop-culture headlines now struggled to feel urgent.