Snoop Dogg is coming home. The Long Beach native will host the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, marking the first time the ceremony has been staged outside New York or New Jersey since 2017. This year he is not just fronting the show — he is also serving as an executive producer, giving him a hand in shaping the broadcast itself.
According to KTLA, Snoop Dogg confirmed the hosting gig himself, and the news was also announced by the VMAs Instagram account, which said he would host the show live on September 27. His executive producer role puts him alongside veteran television producer Van Toffler and production company Gunpowder & Sky, according to TheWrap. The pairing reflects their existing professional relationship, per the same outlet's reporting.
The show will air live in prime time on CBS from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET, alongside its traditional MTV simulcast and a Paramount+ stream, according to Paramount. Per KTLA's reporting, the show will also stream on Paramount+ at 4:30 p.m. PST and broadcast live simultaneously on CBS and MTV. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have live access through local CBS affiliate feeds.
A Homecoming Nine Years in the Making
The last time the VMAs were held on the West Coast was August 27, 2017, when Katy Perry hosted the ceremony at The Forum in Inglewood, according to Wikipedia. Between 2018 and 2025 the ceremony was held primarily in New York and New Jersey, making this year's return to Southern California a significant break from recent tradition.
This time the show lands at the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater, located within the $3 billion L.A. LIVE entertainment complex in Downtown LA. The venue, which features a 120-foot by 80-foot stage, previously hosted the VMAs in 2010, 2011, and 2015 when it operated under the names Nokia Theater and Microsoft Theater, according to the Peacock Theater. The venue regularly hosts the Primetime Emmy Awards and BET Awards, and it recently landed an even bigger prize: starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029, the Academy Awards will relocate there from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre, as Hoodline previously reported.
Snoop's Long Résumé With the Franchise
Snoop Dogg made his VMA debut in 1994, and his history with the show runs deep. He closed the 1999 broadcast alongside Dr. Dre and Eminem and returned for a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., then co-performed a metaverse-inspired set with Eminem in 2022 that featured Bored Ape Yacht Club avatar visuals, according to Benin Web TV. Over the years, he has won three VMAs and picked up 13 nominations, per KTLA's reporting. His given name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., though he performs as Snoop Dogg, per the same outlet.
The host also brought a bit of levity to his own announcement. Asked about a moment involving smoke in the room, Snoop Dogg said he did not know how it got there, KTLA reported.
Madonna Leads a Star-Studded Nominations Field
Madonna tops this year's nominations with 11, according to QnotesCarolinas. Her VMA profile is part of the ceremony's broader history.
Behind her, Taylor Swift picked up nine nominations, while Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande each received seven, per KTLA's reporting. PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, and Bruno Mars each landed five nominations apiece.
This year's Video Vanguard Award goes to Nirvana, the Seattle grunge band, according to Us Weekly. The band remains part of the show's history.
A Bigger Broadcast Bet for CBS
CBS's decision to simulcast the VMAs puts MTV's flagship award show on the network's main broadcast schedule, according to CBS News.
For Snoop Dogg, the hosting gig is the latest entry in a busy Southern California stretch. Related local coverage is available from Hoodline. With the VMAs now set for his home turf, the Long Beach native gets to add a hosting and producing credit to the year.
