The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were supposed to celebrate the biggest names in music, but some viewers were left wondering whether it was finally time for the once-iconic ceremony to call it quits.
Held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026, the Snoop Dogg-hosted event leaned heavily into nostalgia.
Madonna took home seven awards, Taylor Swift added to her record-breaking VMA collection, and Nirvana received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
But the star-studded lineup wasn't enough to save the ceremony from a wave of criticism.
The night got off to a frustrating start when an NFL game delayed the broadcast, leaving fans waiting for Madonna's highly anticipated opening performance.
With only six competitive awards presented on air, viewers also questioned whether the ceremony had become more interested in performances and nostalgia than actually celebrating music.
“Getting the feeling this might be the last VMAs,” one viewer remarked.
Another complained, “Honestly, the VMAs have felt like a funeral for years,” while a third added, “We say this every single year. Honestly, just pull the plug.”
Moreover, the VMAs have long been a playground for daring outfits, bizarre silhouettes, and unconventional styling.
This year was no different, with several stars taking fashion risks that didn’t quite pay off, from experimental ensembles and questionable accessories to choices that seemed to miss the mark entirely.
Here are some of the most bizarre 2026 VMAs red-carpet outfits that stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
#21 JoJo
JoJo, whose real name is Joanna Noëlle Levesque, attended the ceremony to mark two decades in the music industry.
The 35-year-old singer rose to fame as a teenager with hits including Leave (Get Out) and Too Little Too Late and has since built a career spanning pop, R&B, and acting.
Her 2026 appearance also marked her return to the VMA red carpet after a decade.
JoJo arrived at the VMAs in a daring lingerie-inspired look, but the singer revealed that she almost wore something completely different.
Her original outfit reportedly broke apart just five minutes before she was supposed to leave for the ceremony, forcing her team to scramble for a replacement.
The last-minute ensemble turned out to be a plunging black triangle br* top covered in sparkling black sequins, paired with a floor-length black column skirt decorated with heavy swirls of black and clear crystals around the hips and down the front.
She completed the look with towering black peep-toe platform heels featuring rhinestone detailing.
Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet, JoJo revealed that her planned outfit had essentially disintegrated minutes before she was due to leave.
“I feel a little b*sty, but that's alright! It's what I got,” she joked.
The singer also explained that the unexpected backup outfit reminded her of early-2000s R&B fashion, particularly the kind of lingerie-meets-tailoring looks associated with Aaliyah.
Not everyone watching the red carpet was convinced, however, with one person writing, “I guess told herself to leave and get out without a shirt! She too grown to be dressing like that!”
“What’s with all these br* skirts combos? I don't get it,” another commenter asked.
“I think she forgot her jacket. Why is she n*ked.. embarrassing,” a third user added.
“Is the theme for the women shirtless? It's absurd how many of these stars are sporting nothing but br*s.”
The 35-year-old singer rose to fame as a teenager with hits including Leave (Get Out) and Too Little Too Late and has since built a career spanning pop, R&B, and acting.
Her 2026 appearance also marked her return to the VMA red carpet after a decade.
JoJo arrived at the VMAs in a daring lingerie-inspired look, but the singer revealed that she almost wore something completely different.
Her original outfit reportedly broke apart just five minutes before she was supposed to leave for the ceremony, forcing her team to scramble for a replacement.
The last-minute ensemble turned out to be a plunging black triangle br* top covered in sparkling black sequins, paired with a floor-length black column skirt decorated with heavy swirls of black and clear crystals around the hips and down the front.
She completed the look with towering black peep-toe platform heels featuring rhinestone detailing.
Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet, JoJo revealed that her planned outfit had essentially disintegrated minutes before she was due to leave.
“I feel a little b*sty, but that's alright! It's what I got,” she joked.
The singer also explained that the unexpected backup outfit reminded her of early-2000s R&B fashion, particularly the kind of lingerie-meets-tailoring looks associated with Aaliyah.
Not everyone watching the red carpet was convinced, however, with one person writing, “I guess told herself to leave and get out without a shirt! She too grown to be dressing like that!”
“What’s with all these br* skirts combos? I don't get it,” another commenter asked.
“I think she forgot her jacket. Why is she n*ked.. embarrassing,” a third user added.
“Is the theme for the women shirtless? It's absurd how many of these stars are sporting nothing but br*s.”
Report
3points
#22 Chanel West Coast
Chanel West Coast brought her country era to the 2026 VMAs, but her attempt to merge Western style with her signature bold aesthetic left some viewers wondering whether she had taken the theme a little too far.
Best known for spending more than a decade as a co-host on MTV’s Ridiculousness, Chanel has spent the past few years reinventing herself beyond the network.
She attended the VMAs to promote her latest music, including her new country single Tennessee, following her transition from hip-hop into country music.
Chanel did not perform or receive any nominations at the ceremony, but she still had a major presence on the blue carpet.
She arrived with her fiancé, Dom Fenison, in coordinated Western-inspired looks.
Chanel wore a custom asymmetrical layered dress combining leopard print with intricate black lace.
She paired the ensemble with a matching leopard-print cowboy hat, an oversized statement pendant, and sparkling Rene Caovilla stiletto sandals.
The combination quickly attracted attention online, with one person writing, “THIS is why no one cares about this award show anymore. Why was she invited?”
Another compared her to a video game character, saying she looked like a “fully customized Red D**d Redemption 2 online character with maximum leopard print patterns.”
Others said, “Girl leopard print is my fav color and you’re out here f**king making it look extra goofy. Bye.”
Another joked, “Girl get back on the horse and ride away! What you doin there?”
The criticism extended beyond her outfit, as Chanel also found herself defending her move into country music.
Speaking about the criticism she has received throughout her career, she explained, “I got it when I was rapping and doing hip-hop. And now I’m still getting it doing country…”
“You gotta just look past it and look at the people whose lives you change through your music.”
Best known for spending more than a decade as a co-host on MTV’s Ridiculousness, Chanel has spent the past few years reinventing herself beyond the network.
She attended the VMAs to promote her latest music, including her new country single Tennessee, following her transition from hip-hop into country music.
Chanel did not perform or receive any nominations at the ceremony, but she still had a major presence on the blue carpet.
She arrived with her fiancé, Dom Fenison, in coordinated Western-inspired looks.
Chanel wore a custom asymmetrical layered dress combining leopard print with intricate black lace.
She paired the ensemble with a matching leopard-print cowboy hat, an oversized statement pendant, and sparkling Rene Caovilla stiletto sandals.
The combination quickly attracted attention online, with one person writing, “THIS is why no one cares about this award show anymore. Why was she invited?”
Another compared her to a video game character, saying she looked like a “fully customized Red D**d Redemption 2 online character with maximum leopard print patterns.”
Others said, “Girl leopard print is my fav color and you’re out here f**king making it look extra goofy. Bye.”
Another joked, “Girl get back on the horse and ride away! What you doin there?”
The criticism extended beyond her outfit, as Chanel also found herself defending her move into country music.
Speaking about the criticism she has received throughout her career, she explained, “I got it when I was rapping and doing hip-hop. And now I’m still getting it doing country…”
“You gotta just look past it and look at the people whose lives you change through your music.”
3points
