American rapper and music icon Snoop Dogg has been announced as the host of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, made the announcement on Thursday, revealing that he will host the prestigious ceremony scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 27.
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with MTV and the VMAs, Snoop Dogg described the hosting opportunity as a full-circle moment in his career.
“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” he began. “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.”
The 54-year-old rapper also highlighted his connection with producer Van Toffler, noting that their shared history during MTV’s early years made the opportunity 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 54-year-old declared. “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.”
Snoop Dogg has enjoyed a long association with the VMAs, having received 13 nominations and won three awards throughout his career.
He made his VMAs debut at the 1994 ceremony, where he won the Best Rap Video award for Doggy Dogg World.
Meanwhile, Madonna leads the nominees for the 2026 MTV VMAs with 11 nominations. Taylor Swift follows with nine nominations, while Ariana and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations.
Rock band Nirvana is also set to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award during the ceremony.
With Snoop Dogg taking on hosting duties, the 2026 VMAs is expected to feature a blend of music, entertainment and memorable moments as some of the biggest names in the industry gather in Los Angeles.
