The MTV VMAs returned to Los Angeles for the first time in nine years, bringing with them some of the most unexpected fashion choices of red carpet season, as tends to happen when musicians, rather than actors, are calling the sartorial shots.
Packed with artists at every level of fame and a healthy dose of reality TV stars, the VMAs red carpet opened outside the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles hours before the ceremony, delivering an explosion of black textures, unexpected patterns, and enough maximalism to suggest that the clean, quiet-luxury era may finally have a nail in its coffin.
The night's biggest names, however, kept everyone waiting.
Madonna and Taylor Swift entered the evening as the two most-nominated artists, with 13 and 11 nominations, respectively, competing for more Moon Persons, MTV's astronaut statuette that has become one of pop culture's most recognizable trophies.
Swift, who debuted as married woman in the red carpet with an elegant old-hollywood dress, was also set to receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, while the music video for her "Patient Zero," directed by Swift and starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, was scheduled to make its world premiere during the telecast.
With Snoop Dogg hosting for the first time, the ceremony promised the kind of unpredictable moments that have defined the VMAs for decades. Madonna was tapped to open the show with her first live VMA performance in 23 years, while LISA, RAYE, Gunna, Shaboozey, Kacey Musgraves, Teddy Swims, SOMBR, GENER8ION, Sienna Spiro and Yung Lean were among the performers scheduled to take the stage. Musgraves was also set to lead a tribute to Dolly Parton, while RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims were part of a tribute to George Michael.
Nirvana, meanwhile, arrived at the 2026 VMAs already assured of one of the night's biggest honors: the legendary band was selected to receive MTV's Video Vanguard Award.
But before anyone picked up a Moon Person, there was another competition unfolding outside the Peacock Theater, and this one had nothing to do with fan voting.
From the looks that understood exactly what a VMAs red carpet is supposed to be to the outfits that perhaps should have stayed on the mood board, here are the best and worst dressed stars at the 2026 MTV VMAs.
RAYE has arrived at the #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/u3G84oVJ5R
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 27, 2026
