Taylor Swift to premiere 'Patient Zero' video at 2026 MTV VMAs

Taylor Swift will premiere her new “Patient Zero” music video during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on 27 September.

The world premiere will air as part of the ceremony, which runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS and airs at the same time on MTV, a simulcast. In the United States it will also stream on Paramount+ Premium, Deadline reported.

Swift directed the video herself. The cinematographer, the person who leads camerawork and lighting, was Emmanuel Lubezki. Actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson appear as guest stars.

Fans have already had two short looks. CBS Mornings showed a 13-second sneak peek, and Swift shared a 10-second teaser on social media, according to KCTV5.

“Patient Zero” is the first single, meaning the first track put out to launch a release, from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore. That is the expanded edition of Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl. It will be available to stream on 25 September, two days before the VMAs.

The expanded edition adds four previously unreleased songs. Alongside “Patient Zero”, the new titles are “Cleveland!”, “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon”.

This year’s VMAs will be hosted by Snoop Dogg. The show airs live on 27 September from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT.

For fans, this means a busy three days. New music arrives on 25 September. The full video follows on awards night.