2026 MTV VMAs Scraps Long-Running “Best Rock” Category
The rock category had been in existence in some form or another since 1989. 2026 MTV VMAs Scraps Long-Running “Best Rock” Category Spencer Kaufman
The 2026 MTV VMAs will no longer include the "Best Rock" category, signaling a shift in the music landscape. Gene Simmons, a vocal critic of rock music, has long maintained that the genre is dead, and it seems MTV has taken note. The annual VMAs, once a celebration of rock music, will now focus solely on "Best Alternative" videos.
The 2026 nominees for the "Best Alternative" category include artists such as Geese, mgk & Fred Durst, Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, SOMBR, Tame Impala, and Twenty One Pilots. The VMAs first recognized rock music in 1989 with the "Best Heavy Metal Video" category, which evolved into "Best Metal/Hard Rock Video" and "Best Hard Rock Video" before becoming "Best Rock Video" in 1997.
The decision to eliminate "Best Rock" comes just a year after MTV honored the late Ozzy Osbourne with a tribute featuring Yungblud and members of Aerosmith. The 2026 VMAs will air on September 27th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT.
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