MTV VMAs Producer Van Toffler Reflects on Surprise Performers (Adam Lambert! Bruno Mars!), Madonna’s Big Wins and Pat Smear’s Onstage Cigarette Break

Taylor Swift, Madonna and more A-listers brought star power to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night. Madonna opened the show with Sabrina Carpenter and Charlie xcx, while Swift closed it down with the video of the year win (they also made other appearances throughout the night to collect awards and, in Swift’s case, debut her new video for “Patient Zero”). In between, the show welcomed performers including Raye, Sombr and Lisa, paid tribute to Dolly Parton and George Michael, and presented Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award, among other highlights. The day after the show, The Hollywood Reporter caught up with producer Van…