Madonna is set to return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage for the first time in 23 years, marking a major comeback at the annual music ceremony.
The pop icon will perform at the 2026 VMAs, which are scheduled to take place at the UBS Arena in New York on Sept 27.
The appearance will be Madonna’s first performance at the VMAs since 2003, when she shared the stage with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during a performance that became one of the ceremony’s most talked-about moments.
Madonna has also been confirmed as the recipient of the inaugural VMA Icon Award, recognising her long-standing influence on music and popular culture.
The singer has a particularly strong connection with the VMAs. She performed at the inaugural ceremony in 1984, delivering a memorable rendition of “Like a Virgin” that helped establish the awards show as a major platform for pop performers.
She went on to make numerous appearances at the ceremony over the following decades, including performances of songs such as “Vogue”, “Music” and “Hung Up”.
Her upcoming return comes as she continues working on new music. Madonna has been teasing material from an upcoming album, which is expected to draw inspiration from the dance-pop sound associated with some of her most successful work.
The singer recently reunited with producer Stuart Price, who worked with her on her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor, for the new project.
Madonna has also remained active in revisiting her extensive catalogue. In recent years, she completed her Celebration Tour, which featured songs spanning her decades-long career.
The 2026 VMAs will feature performances from several major artists, with Madonna’s appearance expected to be one of the event’s headline moments.
Her return also comes more than two decades after her last VMA performance, giving the veteran performer another opportunity to take the stage at an awards ceremony that has been closely associated with some of the defining moments of her career.
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