The Moon Man still has some life left. CBS and MTV’s coverage of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards averaged 8.43 million viewers Sunday night, according to Nielsen Live + Same Day Fast Nationals. These numbers are subject to change once the finale is over, but for now, that makes it the most-watched VMA in 11 years (since 2015, when it only aired on MTV) and puts it up 51% from last year’s show.
The VMAs were likely helped by an overrun of NFL football (which ran late until the Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys), pushing the VMAs start time back several minutes (to 7:51 p.m. ET). The show always started at 4:30 p.m. PT inside LA Live’s Peacock Theater, but ended up being delayed on CBS.
That 8.43 million number includes the simulcast on CBS and MTV, as well as an encore on MTV. But in an apples-to-apples comparison, last year’s show (September 7, 2025) also aired on CBS, MTV and was picked up on MTV – and that TV show had 5.60 million viewers.
By individual network count, the CBS telecast averaged 7.61 million viewers, up 52% from last year (5.00 million). The MTV simulcast averaged 686,000 viewers (up 40% from last year’s 481,000). And MTV’s encore drew 142,000 viewers (up 31% from last year’s 108,000).
According to CBS, this year represented the best same-day audience for the VMAs since 2015, when the awards show reached 12.73 million viewers.
In demos, these are the most-watched VMAs among adults 25-54 (3.11 million) since 2019 (3.55 million) and up +34% from last year (2.32 million). Among adults 18-49, the show received 2.66 million – the best since 2018 (3.02 million) and up 32% from 2025 (2.02 million). And among adults 18-34, the show averaged 1/09 million, the best since 2020 (1.14 million) and up 46% from last year (751,000).
CBS also reported social media highlights: 31.1 million interactions and 159 million video views (up 8% from last year).
The 2026 VMAs opened with Madonna – for her first VMA performance in 23 years – along with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. The show also featured Taylor Swift winning Video of the Year, winning the MTV VMA Creative Director Award, and showcasing her new music video for “Patient Zero.”
Additionally, Nirvana received the Video Avant-Garde Award and tributes were paid to Dolly Parton and George Michael. Other artists included GENER8ION, Gunna, Kacey Musgraves, Lisa, Madonna, Raye, Shaboozey, Sienna Spiro, Sombr, Teddy Swims and Yung Lean.
Snoop Dogg hosted the 2026 VMAs. Gunpowder & Sky produced the special, while. Van Toffler served as producer. Den of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic, Barb Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer were executive producers alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block was co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer. Snoop Dogg served as executive producer alongside producers Sara Ramaker and Jasmin Ratansi. Jen Proctor was executive producer of talent.
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