MTV VMAs to Present George Michael Tribute Featuring Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims

MTV VMAs to Feature a George Michael Tribute With Raye, Sombr, and Teddy Swims

The homage to the late singer will include a medley at the Sunday awards show

By

Althea Legaspi , Shirley Halperin September 22, 2026

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George Michael , who died a decade ago on Christmas Day 2016, will be honored at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Rolling Stone can exclusively reveal.

Among those performing the homage to the beloved singer are Raye , Sombr , and Teddy Swims , with Adam Blackstone serving as musical director for the tribute. While it’s unclear which songs will be used throughout the tribute, here’s hoping classics like 1987’s “Father Figure” and Wham!’s “Careless Whisper” make the cut. And of course, it’s a big year for Faith with George Michael: The Faith Tour documentary arriving in theaters later this year.

Raye, who is up for two awards including Song of the Year for “Where Is My Husband!,” will be making her VMAs debut solo performance as well as perform during the tribute. Sombr, who is up for three awards on Sunday, returns to the VMAs stage. Swims makes his return to the VMAs for the first time since 2024, when he was also a four-time nominee.

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_Originally reported by [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-michael-tribute-raye-sombr-teddy-swims-mtv-vmas-2026-1235628525/)._