CBS and MTV VMAs draw 8.4 million viewers in largest audience since 2015
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards held at L.A. Live on Sunday night attracted a combined 8.43 million viewers across CBS and MTV.
Delayed start due to NFL game
The awards show began at 7:51 p.m. ET because an NFL football match ran late until the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys. This overrun pushed the scheduled start time of several minutes past the original 4:30 p.m. PT slot inside L.A. Live's Peacock Theater.
Network by network audience numbers
CBS telecast averaged 7.61 million viewers, while MTV's simulcast brought in 686,000 viewers during the broadcast. An encore presentation on MTV added another 142,000 viewers to the total count for the event.
Demographic performance for adults
The program recorded 3.11 million viewers in the adults 25-54 demographic, marking the highest figure for this group since 2015. These ratings represent a significant increase compared to last year's telecast which drew 5.60 million total viewers.
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