George Michael’s music will return to the VMA spotlight as three artists from a new generation come together to celebrate his legacy.
RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims are set to perform a special tribute to Michael during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27. Acclaimed musician and producer Adam Blackstone will serve as musical director for the performance.
The celebration arrives at a particularly fitting moment for Michael’s catalog. This year marks 40 years since “Faith,” the landmark album that helped establish him as one of the defining pop stars of his generation. It also comes as the 10th anniversary of his death approaches. Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016 at age 53.
The VMA stage has plenty of history with Michael. He won four VMAs during his career and received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award in 1989, cementing his place among the artists whose work helped shape the music video era.
For RAYE, the tribute will be part of an especially busy night. She is scheduled to make her VMA performance debut with a solo appearance in addition to participating in the Michael celebration. She enters the ceremony with two nominations, including Song of the Year for “Where Is My Husband!”
Sombr will also return to the VMA performance stage while competing for three awards, including Song of the Summer and Best Alternative.
Teddy Swims, meanwhile, will make his first appearance on the VMA stage since 2024, bringing another distinctive voice to a tribute built around one of pop music’s most recognizable singers.
The timing also lines up with a new wave of George Michael releases. “George Michael: The Faith Tour,” a live album documenting the era, is scheduled to arrive Nov. 6. A feature-length concert film carrying the same name is expected in U.S. theaters on Dec. 11.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and broadcast on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming through Paramount+ Premium in the United States.
With RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims sharing the stage, the tribute will connect Michael’s enduring catalog with artists whose careers are unfolding decades after “Faith” first became a pop landmark.
