VMAs Revisit Their Most Iconic Moments Before the 2026 Show | Daily Music Roll

As anticipation builds for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, CBS is offering music fans a nostalgic journey through some of the ceremony’s most groundbreaking moments with two upcoming primetime specials. These broadcasts aim to highlight the enduring cultural impact of the VMAs by spotlighting legendary performances and unforgettable highlights that have shaped the event's legacy.

The first special, titled “Best of VMAs: Iconic Vanguard Performances,” will air on Sunday, September 13. Hosted by Donnie Wahlberg, this program focuses on the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, an honor introduced in 1984 to recognize artists with significant influence on both music and visual artistry. Early recipients included David Bowie and The Beatles, setting a high standard for future honorees.

Over the years, the Video Vanguard Award has celebrated a diverse array of performers whose creativity transcended music alone, often culminating in powerful live medleys during the ceremony. The 2025 awardee, Mariah Carey, leads the most recent group of acclaimed artists honored in this category. The special promises to revisit notable presentations by artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Nicki Minaj, among others, showcasing how these moments became emblematic of the VMAs’ role as a platform for artistic innovation.

Following this, on Sunday, September 20, CBS will present “Best of VMAs: Unforgettable Moments,” hosted by former MTV VJ Vanessa Lachey. This special shifts focus to the show’s unpredictable and often headline-making occurrences beyond performances. It will explore bold fashion choices, unexpected collaborations, and defining scenes that propelled emerging artists into stardom.

A significant figure featured in this retrospective is Madonna, who leads the 2026 VMA nominations with 11 nods. Her association with the VMAs dates back to the inaugural ceremony, where her provocative 1984 performance of “Like a Virgin” set a precedent for the event’s theatricality and cultural resonance. Her ongoing prominence highlights the VMAs’ ability to serve as a stage for both artistic expression and public spectacle.

These specials serve a dual purpose: they reconnect long-time viewers with historic highlights while providing newer audiences with context about the VMAs’ evolving significance in the music industry. By revisiting pivotal moments, CBS underscores why the VMAs remain a distinctive and influential institution within music television.

The retrospectives precede the live 2026 MTV Video Music Awards broadcast scheduled for Sunday, September 27. The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, airing on CBS from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET and simulcast on MTV. Additionally, streaming will be available via Paramount+ Premium in the United States, with worldwide accessibility on Paramount+ and MTV the following day.

With roots stretching back nearly four decades, the VMAs have continuously reflected and propelled shifts in popular music and culture. The forthcoming specials curated by CBS offer a curated look at the moments and artists who have defined the show’s identity, reinforcing its status as one of the most watched and talked-about events in music entertainment.

While the detailed content of these specials remains limited, the lineup of featured artists and themes underscores the VMAs’ lasting influence on music performance, fashion, and cultural conversation. As the 2026 ceremony approaches, these broadcasts will provide an evocative reminder of the show’s unique place in shaping the visual and performative language of popular music.