If you turned on CBS expecting Madonna and instead got football, no, you did not have the wrong channel.
The 2026 MTV VMAs were delayed because the Cowboys-Ravens NFL game ran long.
The awards show had been scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT, but the football broadcast pushed the start back.
The NFL game ran over
CBS was carrying the Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys game immediately before the VMAs.
When that game ran past its expected window, the awards show could not begin on CBS at the planned time.
Billboard and Entertainment Weekly both reported that viewers were left waiting as the football coverage continued.
Yes, Madonna’s opening was delayed too
Madonna had been announced as the opening performer, so anyone tuning in specifically for her first VMA performance in 23 years had to sit through the delay too.
Once the show finally started, she came out with Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Debi Mazar and a bathroom full of celebrity cameos, so at least the wait did not end quietly.
The VMAs were still airing on MTV and Paramount+
The 2026 VMAs were scheduled to air on CBS and MTV, with streaming through Paramount+ in the U.S.
But if you were watching CBS specifically and wondering why the VMAs were nowhere to be found at 7:30, football was the reason.
