Madonna returns to the VMAs in 2026 with Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and a club-theater opener

Madonna’s return to the MTV VMAs in 2026 is marked by a club-theater-style opener, her first performance at the show in 23 years. The stage began with a surreal field of dancers contorting in acroyoga poses as lasers projected from their bodies, before Madonna was revealed perched atop a piano.

Sabrina Carpenter joined at the keyboards, facing away from the crowd as the two launched into a performance of “Bring Your Love.” The set then transitioned into “Danceteria Afterhours,” with Charli XCX entering—casually walking out from a bathroom stall—to join Madonna for their newly released collaboration. The moment amplified the performance’s raw, sweaty club energy and featured dancers moving around the pair as the show leaned further into its hedonistic vibe.

The collaboration between Madonna and Charli XCX is presented as a first official musical partnership, produced by Stuart Price. The track reworks Madonna’s “Danceteria,” with Charli adding a verse of her own. Onstage cameos included Julia Garner, who has been connected to Madonna’s long-gestating biopic, which stalled before moving into production. Seth Rogen also appeared briefly, smoking a blunt on stage, with a note that Madonna is set to cameo in season two of Rogen’s The Studio.

Madonna’s VMAs history stretches back to performances at the inaugural 1984 ceremony, with a 2003 set marking her last return before 2026. The 2026 performance is framed as her long-awaited comeback to the VMAs, staged with a blend of spectacle, collaboration, and cameos that align with the performer’s reputation for provocative, boundary-pushing live art.

Source: Consequence

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