George Michael honored with star-studded tribute at 2026 MTV VMAs

At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, a star-studded medley was performed to honor the legacy of the late pop icon George Michael. The tribute, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, coincided with the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, ‘Faith’.

Artist Sombr opened the performance with ‘Faith’ and ‘Father Figure’, notably wearing a black Harley-Davidson leather jacket originally worn by Michael during his 1988 ‘Faith Tour’. RAYE followed with a rendition of ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’, while Teddy Swims performed ‘Careless Whisper’. The tribute concluded with a surprise appearance by Adam Lambert, who led a high-energy cover of ‘Freedom! (’90)’ alongside Sombr, RAYE, Swims, and UK artists MNEK and Saint Harison.

The event marks a significant moment in Michael's enduring legacy, occurring ahead of the upcoming release of the live album ‘George Michael: The Faith Tour’ on November 6 and a concert film scheduled for theatrical release on December 11.