Snoop Dogg to Host 2026 MTV VMAs

Snoop Dogg is set to host the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards as the show returns to the West Coast for the first time in nine years. Snoop is a 13-time VMAs nominee, having won three awards.

“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” Snoop says in a 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. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me. And doing it with my brother Van Toffler [the show’s producer] makes it even more special. Van was there during those early MTV days when we were changing the culture in real time, and we’ve got a whole lot of history together. Now we get to make some new history. The VMAs have always been about those moments you don’t forget – and trust me, we’re gonna give y’all a few more. See you at the VMAs.”

MTV has chosen to go with legacy artists both as host and recipient of the top honor at this year’s VMAs. MTV announced on Wednesday (Sept. 9) that Nirvana will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award. Both acts had multiple No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in the 1990s – four for Nirvana and three for Snoop. Both won at the 1994 VMAs – Nirvana took best alternative video for “Heart Shaped-Box,” while Snoop took best rap video for “Doggy Doggy World.” (Roseanne Barr hosted that show, to give you an idea of how long ago that was.)

This year’s top VMAs nominee, Madonna, goes even further back – to the very first VMAs in September 1984 where she stole the show with an audacious performance of her not-yet-released single “Like a Virgin.” In 2017, Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger ranked it No. 2 on his list “The 100 Greatest Award Show Performances of All Time.”

Snoop, of course, is a Long Beach, Calif. native. Another California native, Katy Perry, hosted the show the last time it was in California – in 2017, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The two superstars teamed for “California Gurls,” a six-week No. 1 Hot 100 hit in 2010.

This will be the sixth year in a row that the show has been hosted by a hip-hop artist or artists. Doja Cat hosted the 2021 show, followed by Jack Harlow, LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj (2022), Minaj solo (2023), Megan Thee Stallion (2024) and LL solo (2025). This will be the second year in a row that the host has been 50+. Snoop is 54. LL was 57 when he hosted last year.

Snoop’s previous performances on the VMAs stage include a first-of-its-kind performance with Eminem inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse (2022), a joint performance with Diddy in tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. (2005), a show-closing teamup with Dr. Dre and Eminem (1999) and his main stage debut in 1994 performing “Murder Was the Case.”

The 2026 VMAs are set to air live coast-to-coast from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 (7:30-9:30 p.m., ET/4:30-6:30 p.m., PT) on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium) in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV. Performers, presenters and special guests will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The 2026 VMAs are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Toffler serves as producer. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barb Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block serves as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer. Snoop Dogg is executive producer alongside producers Sara Ramaker and Jasmin Ratansi. Jen Proctor is executive talent producer.