Yung Lean and GENER8ION premiere 'Storm II' at 2026 VMAs
Yung Lean and GENER8ION performed “Storm II” live for the first time at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on 27 September.
The show aired live on CBS, with the performance also carried on Paramount+. The slot was the VMAs debut for both acts, according to Rolling Stone.
The appearance had been trailed in advance as a world premiere performance. Paramount, which programmes MTV and CBS, named GENER8ION and Yung Lean among the additional live acts ahead of the broadcast, in a notice carried by Paramount Press Express. Both acts entered the night as first-time nominees.
Lean started away from the main stage. He picked up a Moon Person trophy, the silver astronaut statuette handed to VMAs winners, and carried it with him as he walked to the main stage. He smashed it on the ground.
Dancers in school uniforms then flanked him for the body of the song. The choreography was by Damien Jalet. Together with Lean, they recreated the “Storm II” music video in front of the live audience. “Storm II” is the second instalment in the two-part “Storm” collaboration between Yung Lean and GENER8ION.
The ending stayed tight on the camera. As the song faded out, Lean spat a blue ice cream cone directly into the lens. The lens went blue.
The first instalment, “Storm”, came into the ceremony with four nominations. They were Video of the Year, Best Long Form Video, Best Direction for Romain Gavras and Best Choreography for Jalet. Video of the Year is the VMAs’ top video prize, while the long-form category covers extended music films rather than standard short clips.
Gavras arrived with VMAs history. He previously won Best Direction for M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls”. Jalet, a choreographer and dancer, previously worked with Thom Yorke on his short film Anima.
The “Storm II” premiere sat inside a busy performance bill. Lisa, Shaboozey and Gunna were added to the lineup for the 27 September show. RAYE and Sienna Spiro were also announced as additional performers, as reported by Billboard.
