Madonna Returns to the VMAs Stage with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx

Madonna headlined the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, marking her first performance at the ceremony in 23 years. The pop icon opened the show by welcoming Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx for a series of collaborative numbers.

Following a 20-minute delay caused by an NFL broadcast, the segment began with Madonna perched atop a grand piano while Carpenter played. Dressed in a black waistcoat and knee-high boots, the veteran star sang alongside Carpenter, who wore a glittering outfit and beret. Madonna then descended the stairs, shedding her outer layer to reveal a red-and-black corset, before dancers hoisted her onto a rolling table that circulated through an audience choir dressed in white veils.

The performance transitioned into a set piece inspired by the bathroom from Madonna’s “Danceteria” video. Charli xcx emerged from one of the stalls performing the newly released “Danceteria Afterhours” remix, joined moments later by Madonna and actresses Debi Mazar and Julia Garner. The two-song set also featured cameo appearances from Sombr, Seth Rogen, and Andrew Watt, with Charli xcx hyping the crowd by shouting, “Make some noise for Madonna!”

This appearance reestablishes Madonna’s longstanding connection to the awards. Since the VMAs launched in 1984, she has delivered several landmark shows, including her debut performance of “Like a Virgin,” as well as renditions of “Express Yourself,” “Vogue,” and “Ray of Light.” Her previous VMA performance came in 2003, when she shared the stage with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Beyond her historic stage presence, Madonna dominated the 2026 VMAs nomination list with 13 nods, leading all artists. Taylor Swift followed with 11, while Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande received nine and eight nominations, respectively.

VMAs producer Van Toffler recently spoke to Variety about the decision to bring Madonna back, stating, “She is the queen of MTV. She makes great videos. She’s provocative. She always pushed us, and this year’s performance will be no exception.”

The performance follows a significant year for the artist with the July release of “Confessions II,” her first album in seven years and a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor.” Produced alongside Stuart Price, the record features 16 tracks blending contemporary dance music with nods to her past. Madonna promoted the era with a surprise debut of lead single “Bring Your Love” during Carpenter’s Coachella set in April, followed by activations including a rave at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood and a partnership with Grindr in Times Square.