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Snoop Dogg promised cannabis to the winners of the MTV Video Music Awards as he delivered his rollicking opening monologue Sunday night.
Held at the Peacock Theater in the rap icon's native Los Angeles, the star-studded extravaganza featured Snoop, 54, as its master of ceremonies.
The Gin & Juice hitmaker, whose penchant for marijuana has become the stuff of legend, slyly teased the audience that they might be able to indulge with him.
He quipped that 'it wouldn't be a Snoop Dogg party if I didn't provide some of that special sticky icky icky,' using a retro slang term for the drug.
As the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, he dashed many of their hopes: 'Hold on, hold on - that's for every winner here tonight. Just the winners, though.'
Snoop then twisted the knife by urging 'everybody else' to 'look under your seat,' only to then joke: 'There should be nothing there.'
Snoop Dogg promised cannabis to the winners of the MTV Video Music Awards as he delivered his rollicking opening monologue Sunday night
Held at the Peacock Theater in the rap icon's native Los Angeles, the star-studded extravaganza featured Snoop, 54, as its master of ceremonies
The Gin & Juice hitmaker, whose penchant for marijuana has become the stuff of legend, slyly teased the audience that they might be able to indulge with him
No doubt the most anticipated moment of the night will be when Taylor Swift receives the inaugural Artist Director Honors.
With the crowning, the 36-year-old megastar will break her tie with Beyonce, 45, as the most decorated artists of the VMAs, as they each came into Sunday's event with 30 gongs to their name.
Inasmuch as Beyonce has no nominations this year, Swift will become the sole reigning record-holder.
The MTV VMA Artist Director Honors celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.
Swift has utilized music videos as an extension of her songwriting as she has directed the visuals for her tracks: The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, The Man, cardigan, willow, All Too Well: The Short Film, Anti-Hero, Bejeweled, Fortnight (feat. Post Malone), I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault), Karma (feat. Ice Spice) and Lavender Haze.
No doubt diehard Swifties will be watching the event with plenty of scrutiny as she released deluxe album The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore along with new single Patient Zero on Friday.
Meanwhile, the nominations were unveiled last month as it was Madonna who emerged as the artist with the most nods.
Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Swift, who has nods in nine categories.
They will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II (The Film).
Rounding out the category are the music videos for Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande, Tears by Sabrina Carpenter, I Just Might by Bruno Mars and Storm by GENER8ION (starring Yung Lean).
No doubt the most anticipated moment of the night will be when Taylor Swift receives inaugural Artist Director Honors (Above, at the 2024 MTV VMAs in New York in September 2024)
No doubt diehard Swifties will be watching the event with plenty of scrutiny as she released deluxe album The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore along with new single Patient Zero on Friday
Madonna, 68, is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Swift, who has nods in nine categories (Above in New York in June)
They will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia (pictured) and Madonna for Confessions II - The Film
Confessions II (The Film) is in the running to win best best direction, best cinematography, best visual effects, best editing, best choreography, best art direction and more
Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like a Virgin.
She has emerged as a reliable engine of memorable moments at the fete, where she ignited a fan frenzy in 2003 by kissing Britney Spears on the lips.
Over the course of her more than four-decade career, Madonna has earned a total of 19 VMAs, meaning that in order to equal Beyonce's current tally she would have to triumph in every category in which she was nominated this year.
Meanwhile, the fever-pitch publicity around Swift reached a zenith this summer with her Madison Square Garden wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce on July 3.
MTV Video Music Awards 2026 NOMINEES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars - I Just Might
Gener8ion (starring Yung Lean - Storm
Madonna - Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter - Tears
Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Madonna
Morgan Wallen
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Madonna has the most nominations of the year with 11
SONG OF THE YEAR
BTS - Swim
Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas
Huntr/x - Golden
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
Raye - Where Is My Husband
BEST NEW ARTIST
Bella Kay
Cortis
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
Stella Lefty
BEST COLLABORATION
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & Whips
French Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left Me
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Shakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard Part
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Charli XCX – SS26
Lisa – Dream
Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Taylor Swift is trailing just behind the Queen of Pop with nine nods to her name
BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe
Don Toliver – E85
Drake – Janice STFU
Megan Thee Stallion – Lover Girl
Travis Scott – Dumbo
Tyler, The Creator – Sugar on My Tongue
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Chris Brown – It Depends/Obvious
Dave & Tems – Raindance
Justin Bieber – Yukon
Kehlani – Folded
Mariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a Crime
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Geese – Taxes
MGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur Face
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide
Olivia Rodrigo – The Cure
Sombr – Homewrecker
Tame Impala – Dracula
Twenty One Pilots – Drag Path
BEST DANCE
Bebe Rexha and Faithless – New Religion
Harry Styles – Aperture
Lady Gaga and Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Slayyyter – Dance...
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
BEST LATIN
Anitta and Shakira – Choka Choka
Bad Bunny – NUEVAYoL
Fuerza Regida – Tu Sancho
Karol G – Papasito
Rosalía – La Perla
Ryan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La Villa
Shakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai
Ariana Grande has landed a total of seven nominations
BEST K-POP
Blackpink – Jump
BTS – Swim
Cortis – Redred
Katseye – Pinky Up
Le Sserafim – Spaghetti
Lisa – Dream
BEST COUNTRY
Ella Langley – Choosin’ Texas
Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell
Lainey Wilson – Somewhere over Laredo
Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Stella Lefty – Boston
Tucker Wetmore – Brunette
BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Gener8ion – Storm
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – Opalite
Sabrina Carpenter is tied with Grande, having scored seven nods
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky
Lisa – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Shaboozey – Cowgirl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST EDITING
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Bruno Mars – I Just Might
Lisa – Dream
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Gener8ion – Storm
Harry Styles – Dance No More
Katseye – Pinky Up
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me
Jisoo and Zayn – Eyes Closed
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Raye – Click Clack Symphony
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli XCX – SS26
Lady Gaga and Doechii – Runway
Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)
PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside
Sombr – My Body Isn’t Ready
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Swift has a chance this year to break her dead heat with Beyonce, with whom she is tied for most VMAs ever at 30
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