Published on: August 25, 2023 Updated 3 times since publishing
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch the MTV Video Music Awards From Anywhere in 2026:
- Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN for its blazing-fast speeds and ease of use.
- Connect to a VPN server. Open the VPN app and connect to a server location. It’s best to pick a server location that’s close to you, so you can get the fastest possible speeds for buffer-free streaming.
- Launch your preferred streaming service. That’s it! You’re now able to watch the MTV Video Music Awards securely using a VPN.
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) show is only available in the US. This is because streaming services aren’t allowed to broadcast it to international viewers due to licensing agreements, So, they use geo-restrictions to block viewers from outside of the country.
A VPN hides your IP address. When you connect to a server in a location, it masks your real IP address and assigns you an IP address that matches that location. This permits the VPN to access the MTV Video Music Awards stream from anywhere.
A VPN also secures your traffic and can improve your speed. It encrypts your internet traffic, which protects your data and shields you from prying eyes. This also makes sure your ISP (Internet Service Provider) doesn’t slow throttle your speed because of a bandwidth-demanding activity — like streaming.
I recommend watching the MTV VMAs using ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest VPN on the market, works flawlessly with every streaming service that shows the MTV VMAs, and has very intuitive apps. But I’ve also listed a couple of other VPNs below that are decent alternatives.
Editor’s Note: The VPNs I recommend have strict no-logging policies that prevent them from keeping track of what you do online, so you’re solely responsible for how you choose to use a VPN. My colleagues and I at SafetyDetectives don’t support breaking any copyright laws.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Watch the MTV Video Music Awards on Any Device
1. Choose a VPN that’s good for the MTV VMAs.
My top pick is ExpressVPN since it works with the streaming services that show the VMAs, it has great speeds for streaming, and it offers affordable plans with tons of extra features.
2. Download the VPN app and install it on your device.
You can download the app from the VPN website or from the app store on your device. To install it, simply follow the easy instructions provided by the installation wizard.
3. Open the VPN app, connect to a server, and open a streaming app.
Log into your preferred streaming app, then start watching the MTV VMAs.
What Streaming Services Show the MTV Video Music Awards?
The 2026 MTV VMAs are set to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Watching the MTV Video Music Awards in 2026
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching the MTV Video Music Awards in 2026
Basic 12-Months plan: $3.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming the MTV Video Music Awards in 2026. It has excellent streaming support, offers the fastest connection speeds in the industry, and provides best-in-class privacy and security features.
ExpressVPN works with every service that shows the MTV VMAs, such as YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV Blue/Orange, and Hulu+Live TV. It also has 20+ server locations across the US, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a working server that’s nearby and not too crowded for the best possible speeds.
ExpressVPN has user-friendly apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, so you’ll have no problem connecting to a nearby server and watching the MTV VMAs on any device. It also supports smart TVs and Amazon Fire Stick and has a smart DNS feature, called MediaStreamer, which lets you use the VPN on devices that don’t support VPNs, like certain smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Good VPN for Streaming the MTV Music Video Awards on Mobile
6-month plan: $7.50 / month
1-month plan: $11.95 / month
Private Internet Access (PIA) is particularly good for streaming the VMAs on mobile. PIA’s Android and iOS apps have simple and intuitive interfaces and great convenience features. For example, I really like how it displays your ping to each server in its server selection menu. Its mobile apps are also highly customizable — you can change everything from its encryption level to the look and layout of the app.
It also works well with a couple of streaming sites that broadcast the VMAs, including Hulu+Live TV and YouTube TV. It also has at least one server in all 50 US states, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a server closer to your location for fast speeds.
PIA has apps for other major platforms, too, including Windows and macOS, as well as a smart DNS tool that allows you to use the VPN on your smart TV and gaming console.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great for VPN Beginners Watching the MTV Music Video Awards
6-month plan: $6.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
CyberGhost VPN is a solid pick for first-time VPN users who want to watch the VMAs. Its apps are very easy to navigate, and it has dedicated streaming servers for different streaming services that are kept in a separate tab, so they’re easy to locate and connect to.
CyberGhost has streaming-optimized servers for nearly every site that shows the VMAs, like YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu+Live TV, and Paramount+. These servers are optimized to always access the intended streaming platforms, but its regular servers also work with a lot of streaming sites that broadcast the awards. It also has 10+ server locations in the US, which is fewer than Private Internet Access, but you still have plenty of connection options.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor's Note: Intego ONE, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
Quick Comparison Table
Editor's Note: Intego ONE, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching the MTV Video Music Awards From Anywhere in 2026
- Choose a VPN that works with sites that stream the MTV VMAs. All of the VPNs on my list work consistently with streaming services that broadcast the MTV VMAs.
- Select a VPN with many US servers. The more servers the provider has in the US, the easier it’ll be to find a non-crowded and nearby location to connect to for the fastest possible speeds.
- Prioritize high-speed VPNs. All VPNs slow down your connection slightly, but top-tier providers, like ExpressVPN, maintain fast enough speeds to stream HD content without buffering and lag.
- Check device compatibility. The VPNs I recommend have apps for all major OS, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS so you can stream the VMAs on any of these devices. If you want to stream on a smart TV or gaming console, you should also make sure that the provider you choose has a smart DNS tool.
- Find a VPN with robust security features. I only recommend VPNs with industry-standard VPN security features, like 256-bit AES encryption, which makes your online traffic indecipherable to third parties, a strict no-logs policy, meaning the provider doesn’t keep logs of your online activities, and a kill switch, which shuts down your internet connection if your VPN connection drops, so you don’t accidentally leak any data.
- Evaluate pricing and value. For my list, I chose VPNs with reasonably priced plans that accept various payment methods and allow for a minimum of 7 simultaneous connections. Additionally, these VPNs also come with a money-back guarantee, so you can test them out risk-free and get a full refund if you find that they don’t meet your particular needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the MTV Video Music Awards?
You can watch the MTV Video Music Awards on these streaming services: MTV.com, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV Blue/Orange, Hulu+Live TV, Philo, and Paramount+.
What’s the best VPN for streaming the MTV Music Video Awards?
I recommend using ExpressVPN. It works with every single streaming service that broadcasts the MTV VMAs. It also provides lightning-fast speeds for a buffer-free streaming experience and has easy-to-use apps for all major operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, plus a smart DNS tool that lets you use the VPN on devices that don’t normally have a VPN app, like your smart TV or gaming console.
Can I watch the MTV Video Music Awards for free?
Yes, you can watch it for free on MTV.com with its 24-hour viewing pass or on Pluto TV. There are also several streaming services with a free trial that’ll allow you to see the entire show for free since it’s just a 1-day event.
Can I watch the MTV VMAs using a free VPN?
Maybe, but I don’t really recommend it. Free VPNs usually don’t support streaming, and even the ones that do often come with serious limitations. A free VPN may not work consistently with streaming platforms that carry the MTV VMAs, have restrictive data caps, throttle your speeds, and offer weak privacy and security features. You would save yourself a lot of time and headache by getting an affordable paid VPN instead.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
