Madonna opens the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with her 2026 single “Bring Your Love,” joined by collaborator Sabrina Carpenter. Charli xcx also appears during the performance, emerging from a club-bathroom set to take part in a reworked version of “Danceteria.” The show runs from the Peacock Theater and is broadcast live on CBS in the U.S., with simulcasts on MTV and streaming availability on Paramount+.
Other segments include a tribute to Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves performs a cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” marking Parton’s death in August at age 80, after a cancer diagnosis. Both outlets also report that the VMAs are slightly delayed, attributed to a scheduling overlap with a tight NFL game. While one article spotlights Madonna’s opening performance and the surrounding celebrity appearances, the other frames the night with key program details and broader context about the tribute and where viewers can watch the ceremony.
