Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims to Headline George Michael Tribute

CBS and MTV announced that Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will perform a tribute honoring George Michael at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with Adam Blackstone serving as music director for the performance. The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, hosted by Snoop Dogg and airing on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount Premium in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the following day on Paramount and MTV. The event marks the VMAs' first return to the West Coast since 2017, with the ceremony taking place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The tribute arrives as the 10th anniversary of Michael's death approaches. He died on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53. A four-time VMA winner, Michael received MTV's Video Vanguard Award in 1989, presented by Madonna, who is set to open this year's show. The performance also precedes the worldwide release of the live album George Michael The Faith Tour on November 6 and the feature film of the same name in U.S. theaters on December 11, marking 40 years since his album Faith was released.