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[09/28/26 - 02:45 PM]
The "VMAs" Scores 8.4 Million Viewers, Up +51% from Last Year, and Hits 11-Year Viewership High
The telecast peaked with over 15 million viewers across CBS and MTV in the opening act, which featured Madonna's first "VMAs" performance in 23 years, including a show-opening medley with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.
[via press release from CBS]

THE "VMAs" SCORES 8.4 MILLION VIEWERS, UP +51% FROM LAST YEAR, AND HITS 11-YEAR VIEWERSHIP HIGH

Last night's 2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS ("VMAs") on CBS and simulcast on MTV delivered 8.43 million viewers, the most-watched "VMAs" since 2015 and up +51% from the 2025 awards show.

Hosted by Snoop Dogg and broadcast live from Los Angeles' Peacock Theater, the 2026 "VMAs" delivered a star-studded celebration of music's biggest artists and moments including Taylor Swift taking home the night's top honor, Video of the Year, and receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. The awards show posted its largest viewership in key adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 demos in years, with all audience demos up more than +30% from last year. The telecast peaked with over 15 million viewers across CBS and MTV in the opening act, which featured Madonna's first "VMAs" performance in 23 years, including a show-opening medley with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.

2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS Ratings Highlights:

· Best same-day audience since 2015 for the "VMAs" (12.73m).

· The 2026 "VMAs" delivered 8.43 million viewers on CBS and MTV, with an encore on MTV, up +51% from the Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, event that also ran on CBS and MTV, with an encore on MTV (from 5.60m).

o CBS averaged 7.61 million viewers, up +52% from last year (5.00m).

o MTV's simulcast averaged 686,000 viewers, up +40% from last year (491K).

o MTV's encore averaged 142,000 viewers, up +31% from last year (108K).

· The show posted its largest A25-54, A18-49 and A18-34 audiences in years.

o Most-watched "VMAs" in the A25-54 demo since 2019 (3.55m), amassing 3.11 million demo viewers, up +34%from last year (2.32m).

o Most-watched "VMAs" in A18-49 since 2018 (3.02m), averaging 2.66 million demo viewers, up +32% from last year (2.02m).

o Most-watched "VMAs" in A18-34 since 2020 (1.14m), averaging 1.09 million viewers in the demo, up +46% from last year (751K).

Source: Nielsen Live+SD Data, 2026 Panel-Only Fast Nationals- Inclusive of Out of Home; Nielsen 09/07/26

2026 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS Social Highlights:

· The "VMAs" ranked as the day's most social show with 31.1 million interactions and 159 million video views, with video views increasing +8% from last year.

· The "VMAs" reached #1 worldwide on X, trended across 10 countries and generated 18 related trending topics.

Source: Social Content Ratings, GetDayTrends and Trends24, 09/27/26





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