Madonna, 68, torched by fans over 'utterly unfocused' MTV VMAs 2026 comeback performance... 23 years after THAT steamy Britney kiss

Madonna shocked fans as she made a blockbuster return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, 23 years after her steamy kiss with Britney Spears made pop culture history.The Queen of Pop, 68, who has emerged as the artist with the most nods with 11 nominations, showed off her toned frame in a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello ensemble - but fans quickly slammed the star over her 'utterly unfocused' performance.Madonna donned a black satin trench coat, a red leotard and knee-high boots as she performed hit Bring Your Love with collaborator, Sabrina Carpenter, 27. The pop icon was seen draped in latex in a steamy visual, accompanied by the statement, 'It's mother!' before dancers contorted themselves on stage - while lasers shot from their crotches.Beginning her performance with her legs spread while sat on top of a piano played by Carpenter, Madonna exuded confidence as she belted out the anthem.The star stripped off to the leotard before she was carried across stage onto a platform, where a choir belted out Bring Your Love. Madonna shocked fans as she made a blockbuster return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, 23 years after her steamy kiss with Britney Spears made pop culture history The star was bundled onto a moving platform by scantily-clad dancers - but fans quickly noted the star seemed 'out of breath' during the performance Madonna donned a black satin trench coat, a red leotard and knee-high boots as she performed hit Bring Your Love with collaborator, Sabrina Carpenter, 27The star writhed about as she was taken through the crowds before Charli XCX's entrance.Madonna joined Charli for a high octane rendition of Danceteria Afterhours remix – but fans watching on TV were left furious as the ceremony was delayed due to an overrunning football game. The raunchy segment saw a scantily-clad Sombr make a shock cameo by a toilet cubicle, before Madonna was lifted into the air by a hunky dancer. However fans flocked to social media to accuse Madonna of lip-syncing and share their fears after the star was seen seemingly out of breath onstage. One fan wrote, 'MTV & CBS really fumbled Madonna tonight. The delay was bad enough, but those HORRIBLE camera angles during her performance? Come on. She deserved so much better.'Another wrote, 'I wish I could’ve seen Madonna in her prime! Mama is TIRED and out of breath on this MTV #VMAs stage. And yes, I know she’s almost 70, so I’m not expecting 1985 Madonna, but whew!'I’ll still give her credit where it’s due: she released one of the best albums of the year.' Others wrote, 'Ima say something controversial. Madonna this is boring.''madonna performance... wow... utterly unfocused and just a got damn MESS!!!!!!!' The star struck sultry poses as she was carrried through the crowd The star was joined in a bizarre leather urinal scene by Debi Mazar The star straddled a dancer in a toilet cubicle Seth Rogen also joined the hitmaker, while clad in a leather ensemble Madge was joined by Julia Garner, whose name has been floated to play the hitmaker for years in a biopic Madonna later joined British bombshell Charli XCX for a high octane rendition of Danceteria – but fans watching on TV were left furious as the ceremony was delayed due to an overrunning football game Fans quickly called out the pop icon for her performance 'Madonna doesn’t know how to hang it up. This is one of the weirdest and most cringe things I’ve ever seen. Why are the MTV Music Awards on CBS after football?'Others praised the star for her 'iconic' performance, which also included cameos from Debi Mazar and Seth Rogen. One fan wrote, 'She's 68, bravo to her for still being able to get up in stage and move it the way she did.' Madonna and Carpenter later won best collaboration, beating out Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for Chains & Whips as well as Shakira and Burna Boy for Dai Dai, Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye's Hard Part, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson's Stateside and French Montana and Max B's Ever Since U Left Me. This marked Madonna's first VMAs win since 1999. Accepting the award, Madonna said, 'I would like to briefly say how this collaboration came about.'Everybody who knows me knows how impatient I am' adding that five days passed without her hearing back from Carpenter'I DM’d her' she revealed, 'She answered me back, and I don’t know, within a week we were in the studio together, It was fabulous.'Madonna's winning streak continued as she later scooped Artist of The Year. During 2003's MTV VMAs, Madonna had a prolonged kiss with Spears during their opening performance for the ceremony.Spears opened the show by singing Madonna's Like a Virgin, emerging out of a wedding cake while dressed as a bride, as Madonna did in her 1984 VMAs performance. Other fans praised the star for the epic Madonna and Carpenter later won best collaboration for Bring Your Love Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like a Virgin During 2003's MTV VMAs, Madonna had a prolonged kiss with Spears during their opening performance for the ceremony Madonna's VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance FloorSoon after that, Aguilera joined Spears onstage for the song before Madonna appeared and launched into her single Hollywood. During the performance, Madonna leaned over and kissed Spears, before locking lips with AguileraDuring the broadcast only the image of Spears and Madonna was aired, followed by a reaction shot of Spears' former flame Justin Timberlake.The sapphic moment has gone on to be one of the most memorable in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards.After their public make out session, Spears and Madonna went on to collaborate on the hit single Me Against The Music.Madonna's VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance Floor.Madonna's Confessions II (The Film) is also up for dance video of the year, against such competition as Aperture by Harry Styles, Runway by Lady Gaga and Doechii and New Religion by Bebe Rexha and Faithless.The other nominees in that category are Dance... by Slayyyter, Stateside by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson and Nobody's Girl by Tate McRae.Madonna and Taylor Swift, 36, will be vying against each other for the evening's top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II (The Film). MTV Video Music Awards 2026 NOMINEES VIDEO OF THE YEARAriana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars - I Just MightGener8ion (starring Yung Lean - StormMadonna - Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter - TearsTaylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonnaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift Madonna has the most nominations of the year with 11SONG OF THE YEARBTS - SwimElla Langley - Choosin' TexasHuntr/x - GoldenMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your LoveOlivia Dean - Man I NeedRaye - Where Is My HusbandBEST NEW ARTISTBella KayCortisMagnus FerrellMalcolm ToddMyles SmithSienna SpiroStella LeftyBEST COLLABORATIONClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & WhipsFrench Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left MeMadonna and Sabrina CarpenterPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiTeyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard PartBEST POPAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeCharli XCX – SS26Lisa – DreamOlivia Rodrigo – Drop DeadSabrina Carpenter – House TourTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Taylor Swift is trailing just behind the Queen of Pop with nine nods to her nameBEST HIP-HOPCardi B featuring Kehlani – SafeDon Toliver – E85Drake – Janice STFUMegan Thee Stallion – Lover GirlTravis Scott – DumboTyler, The Creator – Sugar on My TongueBEST R&BBruno Mars – I Just MightChris Brown – It Depends/ObviousDave & Tems – RaindanceJustin Bieber – YukonKehlani – FoldedMariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a CrimeBEST ALTERNATIVEGeese – TaxesMGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur FaceNoah Kahan – The Great DivideOlivia Rodrigo – The CureSombr – HomewreckerTame Impala – DraculaTwenty One Pilots – Drag PathBEST DANCEBebe Rexha and Faithless – New ReligionHarry Styles – ApertureLady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSlayyyter – Dance...Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl BEST LATINAnitta and Shakira – Choka ChokaBad Bunny – NUEVAYoLFuerza Regida – Tu SanchoKarol G – PapasitoRosalía – La PerlaRyan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La VillaShakira and Burna Boy – Dai Dai Ariana Grande has landed a total of seven nominationsBEST K-POPBlackpink – JumpBTS – SwimCortis – RedredKatseye – Pinky UpLe Sserafim – SpaghettiLisa – Dream BEST COUNTRYElla Langley – Choosin’ TexasKacey Musgraves – Dry SpellLainey Wilson – Somewhere over LaredoLuke Combs – Back in the SaddleShaboozey – CowgirlStella Lefty – BostonTucker Wetmore – BrunetteBEST DIRECTIONAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love meBruno Mars – I Just MightGener8ion – StormMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – Opalite Sabrina Carpenter is tied with Grande, having scored seven nodsBEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeA$AP Rocky – Punk RockyLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Shaboozey – CowgirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST EDITINGAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST CHOREOGRAPHYGener8ion – StormHarry Styles – Dance No MoreKatseye – Pinky UpMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Tate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeJisoo and Zayn – Eyes ClosedMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideRaye – Click Clack SymphonyTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST ART DIRECTIONCharli XCX – SS26Lady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSombr – My Body Isn’t ReadyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Swift has a chance this year to break her dead heat with Beyonce, with whom she is tied for most VMAs ever at 30