CBS and MTV VMAs attract 8.4M viewers, making it the most-watched since 2015

[TaylorSwift 164,272]

CBS’ and MTV‘s coverage of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards averaged a combined 8.43 million viewers on Sunday night, according to Nielsen Live+same day fast nationals. Those numbers are subject to change once finals are in, but for now that makes it the most-watched VMAs in 11 years (since 2015, when it only ran on MTV) and puts it up 51% vs. last year’s show.

The VMAs were likely assisted by an NFL football overrun (which went late until the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys), pushing the start time of the VMAs by several minutes (to 7:51 p.m. ET). The show still started at 4:30 p.m. PT inside L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater, but wound up being tape-delayed as a result on CBS.

That 8.43 million number includes the simulcast on CBS and MTV, as well as an encore on MTV. But in an apples-to-apples comparison, the show last year (on Sept. 7, 2025) also aired on CBS, MTV and encored on MTV — and that telecast brought in 5.60 million viewers.

In individual network numbers, the CBS telecast averaged 7.61 million viewers, up 52% from last year (5.00 million). MTV’s simulcast averaged 686,000 viewers (up 40% from last year’s 481,000). And the MTV encore brought in 142,000 viewers (up 31% from 108,000 last year).

According to CBS, this year repped the best same-day audience for the VMAs since 2015, when the awards show hit a big 12.73 million viewers.

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/vma-ratings-cbs-mtv-most-watched-since-2015-up-last-year-1236877733/

[Concertaholic 6,679]

Surprised because this was one of the years I really didn’t care or watch the VMAs and based on what most people said it was kind of a flop filled with nothing but Madonna and Taylor payola 

[peggyhill 2,237]

I was one of the 8.4m people who watched that garbage. Probably the most lackluster VMAs I've ever seen

The only thing worth watching was Madonna's messy speeches

Edited Monday at 10:37 PM by peggyhill

[gagzus 25,978]

The way they’re nowhere near to the record breaking numbers of 2010 or 2011 anymore  give it up delish

[bxr 3,209]

“Combined” … and that CBS is “America‘s Most-Watched Network” … and that an NFL game being played in Rio segued directly into the ceremony broadcast … 

[Joshie S 6,609]

Could have been well over 20m if they had nabbed mother Monster to attend 

[27monster27 16,208]

1 hour ago, gagzus said:

The way they’re nowhere near to the record breaking numbers of 2010 or 2011 anymore  give it up delish

 

1 hour ago, Joshie S said:

Could have been well over 20m if they had nabbed mother Monster to attend 

No Gaga no ratings. 

 

[Future Lovers 7,883]

2 minutes ago, 27monster27 said:

 

No Gaga no ratings. 

 

How does this track though when 2026 pulled over 2.5 million more viewers? 

[Rahrahbitchson 23,661]

No Rose Bean no ratings

[Future Lovers 7,883]

Per Variety, Madonna’s performance was the most watched moment of the night with 15 million viewers, even beating out Taylor’s new video premiere. 

[27monster27 16,208]

19 minutes ago, Future Lovers said:

How does this track though when 2026 pulled over 2.5 million more viewers? 

I believe that this only includes views through MTVs channel, website, etc. Other numbers look higher when things like CBS and other official live streams are included.

Edited Tuesday at 12:59 AM by 27monster27

[Lord Mayhem 3,716]

I'll say Taylor winning an imaginary award, premiering the video for that trash song, and Madonna performing with Charli and Sabrina SLIGHTLY boosted the views...but BARELY 

VMA's just is not what it used to be. From the performances I saw...nobody was a highlight 

[Petie Estie 5,773]

okay i just watched madonna's opener and she TORE omfg that was the best thing I've seen in a while in pop. 

[River 129,272]

5 hours ago, Future Lovers said:

How does this track though when 2026 pulled over 2.5 million more viewers? 

Taylor paid them to lie of course 

[Sepsami 21,169]

Its funny how much of a setup the VMAs is, has it always been that way? Madonna winning like 7 awards and forgetting what it was for even though her album had very little impact, it's just a bit silly. I'm not mad, I like Madonna but the VMAs are just cringe.