George Michael Tribute Set for 2026 VMAs

RAYE, SOMBR and Teddy Swims will come together for a tribute performance to honor George Michael during the 2026 MTV VMAs. These three artists, who range in age from 21 to 33, were all born after Michael’s career peak, which shows how his music’s reach has extended to new generations. Adam Blackstone will serve as music director for the performance.

The performance comes as we approach the 10th anniversary of Michael’s untimely death on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53, and ahead of the worldwide release of George Michael: The Faith Tour live album (Nov. 6) and the feature-length film George Michael: The Faith Tour (in theaters across the U.S. Dec. 11).

Michael won MTV’s top honor, the video vanguard award, in September 1989, a little more than six months after he won the Grammy for album of the year for his solo debut, Faith. Michael’s video vanguard award that year was presented by Madonna, who is set as the opening performer on this year’s show, where she is also the top nominee.

“George was such a big part of MTV’s history, and my history at the VMAs,” says Van Toffler, returning producer of the 2026 VMAs, citing Michael’s performance of “Freedom ’90” during the channel’s 1991 10th Anniversary celebration as a particular highlight from his MTV history. “I would strongly encourage that you go back and look at it… He was in a small room with a choir, and it was unbelievable. And I think that those songs are so rich.”

Toffler also points to the tribute’s wide-ranging trio of younger performers as evidence of Michael’s enduring legacy: “They’re all George Michael fans, so we think it’ll be a killer moment to recognize those great songs.”

Michael isn’t the only legacy artist who will play a prominent role on this year’s VMAs. Madonna, host Snoop Dogg and this year’s video vanguard recipient Nirvana also have strong appeal to an older demo. Between Wham! and his solo career, Michael amassed 10 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. Wham!’s holiday classic “Last Christmas” reached a new high of No. 2 in December 2025.

The VMAs will air 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.

RAYE will make her VMAs performance debut with a solo performance and as part of the tribute. The two-time VMAs winner is twice nominated this year, including for song of the year for “Where Is My Husband!” RAYE is currently on a stadium tour with Bruno Mars and will make her film debut in Yann Demange’s upcoming thriller, Lineage.

SOMBR returns to the VMAs performance stage for the second year in a row, while also nominated for three awards, including song of the summer and best alternative, which he won last year. He’ll embark on his YOU ARE THE REASON global headline arena tour, kicking off Sept. 29 in Vancouver, B.C.

Swims returns to the VMAs stage for the first time since 2024 when he was a four-time nominee. He just released his new single “Perfect Man” and announced his upcoming album UGLY to be released on Jan. 22. Swims kicks off the U.S. leg of his arena tour, The UGLY Tour, tonight in Kansas City.

Additional performers, presenters and special guests are set to be revealed in the coming days.

The VMAs are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van 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.