All surprise celeb faces during Madonna's VMAs opener - including her famous ex
All surprise celeb faces during Madonna's VMAs opener - including her famous ex
Kathleen O'BoyleMon, September 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Madonna took over the 2026 VMAs (Image: Getty)Madonna turned her 2026 MTV VMAs opening performance into a star-studded reunion, bringing together some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
Madonna opened the Video Music Awards with an unforgettable performance.
Madonna made her long-awaited return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, September 27, opening the ceremony at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater with a performance packed with familiar faces.
The 68-year-old singer had not performed at the VMAs since 2003, when she shared the stage with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, making this year's return a notable one.
The performance began with Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter performing their song Bring Your Love, with Carpenter arriving in an open white button-down, sparkling bottoms and suspenders. This came after the broadcast was delayed due to Sunday night football.
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The set then moved into Danceteria Afterhours, a remix of Madonna's Danceteria featuring Charli XCX.
The action-packed performance also included a handful of A-listers, who joined in on the fun as they hit the dance floor alongside the queen of pop.
Madonna takes over the 2026 VMAs (Image: MTV)
Madonna opened the 2026 MTV VMAs with her first performance at the ceremony in 23 years. Her set drew from her latest album Confessions II and included Bring Your Love and Danceteria Afterhours, with a number of surprise guests appearing throughout the production.
Sabrina Carpenter (Image: Getty)
Sabrina Carpenter joined Madonna early in the performance of Bring Your Love. The pop star wore an open white button-down with sparkling bottoms and suspenders as she performed alongside Madonna. The collaboration also earned the pair the VMA for Best Collaboration later in the evening.
Charli XCX (Image: Getty)
Charli XCX joined Madonna for Danceteria Afterhours, the remix of Madonna's Danceteria. The singer emerged from one of the bathroom stalls as the performance shifted into its second half. She had arrived on the VMAs red carpet earlier in the evening wearing a sheer black top and matching skirt.
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Julia Garner (Image: Getty)
Julia Garner made a particularly notable appearance given her history with Madonna. The actress had previously been tapped to portray the singer in Madonna's planned biopic before the project was canceled in 2023. Garner appeared on stage in a black one-piece, tights, and tall boots during the performance.
Debi Mazar (Image: MTV)
Debi Mazar appeared alongside Julia Garner during the performance. Mazar and Madonna have been friends for decades after meeting during New York's downtown club scene in the early 1980s. Mazar later appeared in several of Madonna's music videos and built her own acting career in projects including Goodfellas and Younger.
Tony Ward (Image: Instagram)
Madonna's former boyfriend Tony Ward made one of the most unexpected appearances of the night. The model dated Madonna in the early 1990s and appeared alongside her in the singer's controversial Justify My Love video and Sex book. Ward was spotted as part of the bathroom-set portion of the VMA performance.
Sombr (Image: Getty)
Sombr was another unexpected face hidden within Madonna's elaborate set. The singer appeared inside one of the bathroom stalls and danced as Madonna moved through the set.
Seth Rogan (Image: MTV)
Seth Rogen brought a very different energy to the performance. The actor appeared on stage wearing a black leather jacket and smoking a blunt as Madonna's number continued around him.
Fab 5 Freddy (Image: MTV)
Hip-hop figure Fab 5 Freddy was also among the familiar faces included in Madonna's opening number. His appearance fit with the Danceteria section of the performance, which looked back at Madonna's early New York club days and the downtown scene that helped shape her career.
Madonna's bathroom cameos (Image: Getty)
The performance eventually moved into a recreation of a men's bathroom, with Madonna making her way through a row of stalls and sinks as various surprise guests appeared. The setup was part of the visual world surrounding Danceteria, a song tied to Madonna's memories of New York's famous downtown nightclub scene.
Bring Me Love takes the stage (Image: MTV)
The opening number also gave Madonna and Carpenter a chance to perform Bring Your Love live together after the song earned a Song of the Year nomination at the 2026 VMAs. The track was also nominated for Best Collaboration, which Madonna and Carpenter won.
Madonna's seven VMA wins (Image: MTV)
After wrapping up her opening performance, Madonna went on to collect seven awards during the ceremony. Her wins included Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Dance, Best Album, Best Long-Form Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Choreography, adding to her already extensive VMA history.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
