Madonna Opens 2026 VMAs With Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX
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Madonna’s opening performance led into an early win at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards: she took best collaboration for “Bring Your Love”, her track with Sabrina Carpenter. In her acceptance speech, Madonna said she had contacted Carpenter directly after waiting five days for a reply; Carpenter joked that she and her team do respond, though she replies faster.
The performance also featured Charli XCX, as Madonna and Carpenter performed “Bring Your Love” before Charli joined for “Danceteria Afterhours”, staged to resemble the New York nightclub named in the song. It was Madonna’s first VMAs appearance since the 2003 performance with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She entered the ceremony with 11 nominations, following the July release of her album *Confessions II* and its accompanying 14-minute film, and could add to her 20 VMA wins.
- Madonna won best collaboration for “Bring Your Love”.
- She performed with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.
- Madonna had 11 nominations going into the ceremony.
Full account
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards commenced with a striking opening performance that positioned pop music centrally within the evening's proceedings. Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on 27 September and hosted by Snoop Dogg, the ceremony featured Madonna in a headlining slot alongside contemporary pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, with the former's album Confessions II providing the conceptual framework for an elaborate multi-act showcase.
The opening number began with Carpenter positioned at a grand piano whilst Madonna reclined atop the instrument as the pair performed 'Bring Your Love.' Following this intimate musical moment, the performers transitioned into more elaborate choreography, descending to the main stage as a choral ensemble in white veiled habits provided backing vocals. The performance subsequently expanded to incorporate 'Danceteria Afterhours,' a Madonna and XCX collaboration rendered against stagecraft inspired by the legendary New York City nightclub referenced in the track's title. Additional guest appearances from Julia Garner and Seth Rogen, amongst others, extended the spectacle across multiple minutes, evoking the ambitious scale Madonna has historically brought to televised musical performances.
The evening proved particularly triumphant for Madonna across multiple award categories. She was announced as Artist of the Year, defeating nominees including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, and Morgan Wallen—a significant honour given her standing as the ceremony's most heavily nominated artist. She additionally secured the Best Collaboration award for 'Bring Your Love' and won recognition for her Confessions II short film. Her collection of awards reflects the commercial and critical reception of her recent album project, which debuted at the summit of the Billboard 200 chart upon its release earlier in the summer.
During her acceptance remarks for Best Collaboration, Madonna recounted the genesis of 'Bring Your Love' with candid humour. She disclosed that she had initially extended an outreach to Carpenter through direct messaging, having waited approximately five days without receiving a prompt response. Once Carpenter engaged with the message, the pair completed the track within weeks. Carpenter participated in the acceptance remarks, assuring the audience that her team remains responsive whilst jokingly suggesting her personal involvement accelerated their collaboration. The artist pair elaborated on their working relationship, noting shared professional standards and revealing that both possess obsessive-compulsive tendencies that inform their songwriting methodology.
Madonna's prominence at this year's VMAs carries particular historical resonance. The performance marked her first major return to the ceremony since the 2003 edition, when she famously shared an onstage kiss with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. During her Artist of the Year speech, she referenced her inaugural VMAs appearance in 1984, recalling a wardrobe malfunction involving fallen footwear that she initially feared would terminate her career. With Confessions II functioning as her 15th studio album and a deliberate follow-up to her acclaimed 2005 release Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna has effectively reestablished her position within contemporary pop discourse. Her prior collection of twenty Video Music Awards now expands through this evening's wins, with her cumulative achievements potentially approaching Taylor Swift's record of 31 career victories.
Where outlets differ
Nomination count: Source 1 cites 11 nominations; Source 2 indicates 13 nominations coming into the ceremony
1984 VMAs incident: Sources 2 and 3 detail a shoe malfunction with Spears-era cultural context; Sources 1 and 4 do not reference this narrative
Award categories emphasised: Source 2 explicitly highlights Best Dance win for Confessions II film; other sources focus primarily on Collaboration and Artist of the Year
Chart performance data: Source 4 provides specific chart entry for 'Bring Your Love' (No. 74, Billboard Hot 100, May); other sources omit this detail
DM story framing: Source 1 presents straightforward outreach after waiting; Source 4 emphasises being 'left on delivered' and waiting to 'get connected,' suggesting technical barriers
Guest performer specificity: Sources vary in comprehensiveness of cameo appearances listed, with Source 2 providing the most extensive roster
More coverage
- Rolling Stone — Madonna Wins Artist of the Year at 2026 VMAs: ‘I Spent the Last Year-and-a-Half Finding Myself’
- Billboard — Madonna Recalls Being Told Her ‘Career Was Over’ at First VMAs While Winning Artist of the Year in 2026
- Billboard — Madonna Jokingly Calls Out Sabrina Carpenter for Taking ‘5 Days’ to Respond in Best Collab Speech at 2026 VMAs
- Deadline — MTV VMAs 2026 Winners List: Madonna Dominates, Taylor Swift Wins Special Honor
- Billboard — Here Are the VMAs Records Set by Madonna & Taylor Swift With Big 2026 Wins