Travis Kelce Is Not Attending the 2026 VMAs with Wife Taylor Swift: Here’s Why
Travis Kelce Is Not Attending the 2026 VMAs with Wife Taylor Swift: Here’s Why
Nicholas RiceSun, September 27, 2026 at 2:24 PM UTC
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Travis Kelce during an NFL game in September 2026, Taylor Swift in New York City in June 2026.Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty -
Travis Kelce is not attending the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with wife Taylor Swift, who has not confirmed publicly yet if she will be attending
The pop star is set to receive the first-ever Artist Director Honors at this year’s ceremony, and she will also premiere the official music video for her new song “Patient Zero”
The 2026 VMAs will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Sept. 27
Travis Kelce is “the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home” to Taylor Swift, but after the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
The NFL player, 36, will not be attending this year’s awards show, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, to support his wife, who has not confirmed publicly yet if she will be attending.
Kelce will instead go up against the Miami Dolphins with the Kansas City Chiefs at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
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Swift, also 36, will receive the first-ever Artist Director Honors at the 2026 VMAs. According to a press release, it is “a new award recognizing groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.”
The pop star — who will also premiere the official music video for her new song “Patient Zero” during the awards show — has earned nine nominations at this year’s ceremony, including video and artist of the year, as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
Travis Kelce during an NFL game in September 2026.Credit: Michael Owens/Getty
Swift and Kelce first met in 2023, and the couple later announced their engagement in August 2025. They wed at Madison Square Garden in New York City earlier this year on July 3.
A source recently told PEOPLE that after their wedding, Swift and Kelce “feel really grateful” as they settle into a new chapter of their relationship.
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“They’re both just so excited that they’re husband and wife now,” continued the insider of the couple. “Their relationship feels even more special.”
“They’re both always working, creating or thinking about what comes next. And they love living like this,” added the source. “They both feel really grateful for everything they have. They’re very happy.”
Taylor Swift (left) and Travis Kelce (right) during an NFL game in January 2025.Credit: David Eulitt/Getty
Snoop Dogg will host this year’s VMAs, where Madonna leads the group with 11 nominations. Swift follows closely behind with nine, and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven each.
Nirvana will receive the coveted Video Vanguard Award, honoring the band’s lasting influence on music, culture and MTV itself. (The band joins the likes of 2025 recipient Mariah Carey, 2024 recipient Katy Perry, 2023 recipient Shakira and 2022 recipient Nicki Minaj.)
Madonna, 68, will open the 2026 VMAs with her first live performance at the show in 23 years, and other performances will come from Lisa, RAYE, Sienna Spiro, Shaboozey, GENER8ION, Gunna and Yung Lean.
Presenters this year include Charli xcx, Jeff Probst, Alex Warren, Ciara Miller, Belmont Cameli, Teyana Taylor, Ella Bright, Tyla, David Corenswet, Isabel May, Troye Sivan and Rachel Dratch.
The 2026 Video Music Awards will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
