The 2026 Video Music Awards air tonight. The 2011 VMAs drew 12.4 million viewers, MTV's biggest ever. How many watched in 2025?

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The 2025 VMAs drew 5.5 million viewers, less than half the show's 2011 peak. The 2026 show airs tonight from Los Angeles. At age 68, Madonna leads with 13 nominations, while Taylor Swift follows with 11. Just one more competitive win would be Taylor's 31st VMA, breaking her tie with Beyoncé.

The 2011 VMAs drew 12.4 million viewers, MTV's largest audience ever. The 2025 VMAs drew only 5.5 million.

Source: Nielsen via Paramount Press Express (2025); MTV/Nielsen via Billboard (2011) · checked Sep 2025