Madonna will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) for the first time in 23 years.
The Queen of Pop, who has 11 nominations at the ceremony, will open the show in Los Angeles later this month in what will be her first performance at the ceremony since she famously kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during the 2003 show.
Madonna has a rich history with the VMAs as she has won 19 awards in total, while her performance of Like a Virgin during the inaugural ceremony in 1984 is considered to be a groundbreaking moment in pop culture history.
The 2026 VMAs will take place on September 27 and will be hosted by Snoop Dogg.
It marks the first time that the awards bash will be staged in Los Angeles since 2017.
Madonna’s performance comes after she released her acclaimed album Confessions II in July – the success of which left her “grateful and surprised”.
The Vogue hitmaker, 68, posted on Instagram after the record topped the US Billboard Chart: “Words cannot express how grateful and surprised I am by the incredible reception Confessions on a Dance Floor has received!!
“Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this and who has helped make this dream come true. Especially my Fans. The Goodwill and positivity has been incredible. I’m still pinching myself.
“I can’t believe it’s #1 all around the world.My dream was to make people dance this summer!! To bring people JOY! Dreams do come true. Thanks and love!”
Madonna previously admitted she wasn’t expecting to achieve chart success with her latest project, just as she didn’t for its companion record, 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Speaking to Graham Norton on a BBC special which aired in the UK in June, she explained: “I don’t have any expectations. I have been doing this for a long time. You know, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
“[With the first Confessions] it was mind-blowing as we didn’t have any idea how brilliant it was. No, I am just kidding. But it was a huge success. It took me by surprise.
“I’m excited for people to hear the whole album because it’s a whole story. It’s a whole journey.”
