Hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg will take center stage as the host and executive producer of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The high-profile ceremony is scheduled to broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, airing from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
The upcoming event marks a major milestone for the music industry, bringing the VMAs back to the West Coast for the first time since 2017. For the 54-year-old rapper, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., the hosting gig represents a full-circle moment spanning over three decades of involvement with the network.
“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” Snoop Dogg shared in an official statement. “Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV-they gave hip-hop a place to be loud, fearless, and seen by the whole world.”
A Deep History With the VMAs
Snoop’s connection to the awards franchise dates back to his main-stage debut in 1994, where he performed “Murder Was the Case.” Over the years, he has accumulated 13 VMA nominations and three wins, alongside iconic appearances:
- Closing out the 1999 broadcast alongside Dr. Dre and Eminem
- Paying tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. with Diddy in 2005
- Delivering a metaverse-inspired performance with Eminem using Bored Ape Yacht Club visuals in 2022
In addition to hosting, Snoop will serve as an executive producer alongside veteran television producer Van Toffler and production company Gunpowder & Sky. His role as producer reunites him with Toffler, who worked closely with the rapper during his early days in the industry.
Broadcast Details and Nominations
The 2026 ceremony will air live across multiple platforms in the United States:
- Television: Live prime-time broadcast on CBS, with a simultaneous simulcast on MTV.
- Streaming: Available live for Paramount+ Premium subscribers through local CBS affiliate feeds.
- Global Access: International audiences can stream the show the following day via MTV and Paramount+.
As anticipation builds for the September event, music fans are also eyeing this year’s competitive nomination field. Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations-including nods for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year-followed closely by Taylor Swift with nine nominations. Meanwhile, grunge legends Nirvana are slated to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
Offstage, the rap mogul maintains a steady personal life alongside his high school sweetheart and wife, Shante Broadus. The couple, who met at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
