Madonna triumphs at the MTV VMAs after 23 years of absence.

Madonna made her return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage after a 23-year absence, opening the 2026 edition of the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The popstar performed songs from her new album "Confessions II," sharing the stage with Sabrina Carpenter for the duet "Bring Your Love" and with Charli XCX for "Danceteria Afterhours." The show, enriched by numerous cameos, also featured appearances by Julia Garner, Debi Mazar, and Seth Rogen.

The evening concluded with a personal triumph for Madonna, who took home seven awards. Among the accolades received were Artist of the Year, Best Album for "Confessions II," and Best Collaboration for "Bring Your Love" with Sabrina Carpenter. The win for Best Collaboration crowned the duet presented at the opening of the ceremony.

The Video Music Awards (VMA) are an annual music awards ceremony created by MTV in 1984 to celebrate the best music videos. Madonna is a historic figure at these awards, having participated in memorable editions, such as in 2003 when she performed with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in a show that culminated in a famous onstage kiss. Since that year, the singer had not appeared live at the event again.

Her return in 2026 is tied to her latest music project, "Confessions II," which also lends its title to a film. The album represents an ideal sequel to 2005's "Confessions on a Dance Floor." The choice of guests for the show is not random: Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX represent two different generations of contemporary pop, while figures like Debi Mazar hark back to Madonna's New York origins, evoking the 1980s Danceteria club where the singer took her first steps. Julia Garner, the actress chosen to portray Madonna in a biographical film announced in 2022 but not yet made, completes the picture of an event that unites the past, present, and future of her career.