Ariana Grande was noticeably absent from the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards despite receiving eight nominations, as the singer begins a previously announced break from public-facing appearances. The 33-year-old was not seen on the red carpet at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, 27 September 2026, where some of the music industry's biggest stars gathered for the annual awards show.
Grande's absence came less than a month after completing her Eternal Sunshine Tour at London's O2 Arena on 1 September and followed an announcement in August that she intended to step away from public-facing work. Her representative previously said the singer was looking forward to taking a break from appearances that had resulted in 'endless, ongoing public scrutiny'. Grande, however, has stressed that her decision was planned well in advance and was not a reaction to online negativity.
Ariana Grande Misses VMAs Despite Eight Nominations
Grande entered this year's awards as one of its prominent nominees. She received eight nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects and Song of the Summer for 'Hate That I Made You Love Me'. She was also nominated for Best Artist.
Despite the recognition, Grande remained out of the spotlight on Sunday night. Her absence followed the conclusion of the Eternal Sunshine Tour at London's O2 Arena on 1 September.
Grande had already signalled that she planned to reduce her public appearances once the tour ended. She wanted to finish the tour 'both healthily and happily' before taking a 'much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances'. Her representative described those appearances as having led to 'endless, ongoing public scrutiny'.
The singer has faced extensive online discussion surrounding her appearance and body in recent years, including renewed commentary during the Wicked promotional period and her latest music releases.
Grande Insists Break Was Planned Long Ago
While the timing of Grande's break followed another period of intense discussion about her appearance, the singer has explicitly rejected suggestions that online negativity prompted her decision.
During her 3 August concert in Chicago, Grande addressed fans who were concerned that criticism had driven her away from public life. She explained that the decision had been made well before it was announced. 'So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,' Grande said.
She described it as a plan she had 'quietly made a long time ago' and said the decision came from a 'thoughtful and empowered place'. Grande also told fans that negativity was not ruining her experience of the tour. Instead, she framed the break as an attempt to establish boundaries after an intense period of touring, promotion and public appearances.
'Boundaries need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes,' she said. At the same time, Grande described the current chapter of her career as one of the most meaningful periods of her professional life.
Years of Commentary About Grande's Body
Grande's decision comes against a longer history of public commentary about her appearance. In 2023, she directly addressed speculation about her weight after photographs comparing her body at different points in her career circulated online. The singer urged people to become less comfortable commenting on other people's bodies, warning that observers do not necessarily know what another person is experiencing privately.
'I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies,' she said at the time. She also challenged the assumption that the body people had associated with her earlier in her career had necessarily represented better health.
That assessment came from Grande herself. In her 2023 remarks, she discussed her own past health and cautioned against using outward appearance as a measure of another person's wellbeing. Discussion surrounding Grande's appearance continued during the promotional campaigns for the Wicked films and resurfaced during her 2026 music releases and tour.
A Different VMA for Grande
Grande's decision to remain away from Sunday's ceremony marked a contrast with her substantial presence among this year's nominees. Her work remained represented among the nominees despite her absence.
After months of touring and continued attention surrounding both her work and appearance, the 2026 VMAs arrived without one of the night's leading nominees on its red carpet — just weeks after Grande began the break she said she had been planning for months.
