We’re getting closer to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, which means there’s really only one thing left to do: revisit some of the show’s most iconic moments! And if you know pop culture, you know you can’t talk about the VMAs without talking about Britney Spears.
Twenty-six years ago today, on September 7th, 2000, Britney stepped onto the VMA stage and delivered a performance that would become one of the defining moments of not only her career, but the award show’s history. She was just 18 years old.
Britney began the performance looking surprisingly conservative, walking onto the stage in a black suit and fedora as she performed a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
But this was Britney Spears at the VMAs. Obviously, things weren’t going to stay that simple. Moments later, she ripped away the suit to reveal the now-iconic flesh-toned, crystal-covered performance look underneath before launching into “Oops!… I Did It Again.”
And from there? She absolutely owned the stage. The choreography, confidence, attitude and sheer star power were undeniable. There weren’t massive props or an endless number of distractions needed to create the moment, Britney herself was THE moment.
It’s something that feels even more impressive when you remember how young she was. At only 18, Britney walked onto one of the biggest stages in entertainment and performed with the confidence of someone who had been doing it for decades. Every move felt intentional, and by the time she walked offstage, another unforgettable Britney Spears VMA moment had officially been born.
Of course, we didn’t know then just how many more would follow. From her legendary python performance in 2001 to that kiss with Madonna in 2003 and countless other appearances throughout the years, Britney continued raising the bar for what audiences expected from a VMA performance.
That’s why, even though it’s been years since Britney last performed on the show, her presence is somehow still felt whenever the VMAs come around. The stage may belong to a new generation of artists today, but the standard Britney helped create remains: that’s what icons do.
They create moments so memorable that decades later, people who watched them live can remember exactly where they were while an entirely new generation discovers the same performances through clips online and understands why everyone was obsessed in the first place.
Britney didn’t just attend the VMAs, she helped define them. And 26 years after an 18-year-old Britney Spears ripped off that black suit and reminded the world exactly why she was becoming the Princess of Pop, we’re still watching, sharing and talking about it.
If that isn’t iconic, what is?
XO Diva D 