# Was 2016 the VMAs' Greatest Year Ever?

> A decade later, the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards still stands as a cultural peak that the show hasn't matched since.
- Title: Was 2016 the VMAs' Greatest Year Ever? · Billboard | Shortify
- Summary: A decade later, the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards still stands as a cultural peak that the show hasn't matched since. The 2016 VMAs brought together an…
- Keywords: 2016 mtv video music awards, beyoncé, rihanna, drake, kanye west, award show performances, pop music culture, rihanna video vanguard award, music award shows, greatest pop stars podcast, 2016, VMAs'
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/music/pop/2016-mtv-video-music-awards-greatest-pop-stars-podcast-1236342452
- Author: Andrew Unterberger
- Published: 2026-09-17T16:02:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 2016 mtv video music awards, beyoncé, rihanna, drake, kanye west, award show performances, pop music culture, rihanna video vanguard award, music award shows, greatest pop stars podcast
## 2016 VMAs defined an era
The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards brought together superstars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, and Kanye West for career-defining performances and moments that shaped pop culture.
## The end of an era for award shows
A decade later, the 2016 VMAs marked the end of an era when getting so many superstars in one building was still possible. Since then, award shows have struggled to replicate that level of star power.
## Rihanna's Vanguard moment
Drake presented Rihanna with the Video Vanguard Award, but her decision to curve his kiss attempt became a defining moment that shaped both of their public mythologies.
## Beyoncé's Lemonade performance
Beyoncé's Lemonade medley is considered a new high point for award-show performances in general, setting a standard that hasn't been matched since.
## Rihanna's four-part Vanguard set
Rihanna split her Video Vanguard performance into four separate parts throughout the night, sparking debate about whether the decision made sense and which segment was the strongest.
## Podcast revisits the legendary night
The Greatest Pop Stars podcast examines the 2016 VMAs a decade later with Billboard deputy editor Katie Atkinson, exploring why the show hasn't matched that year since.
## Key takeaway

The 2016 VMAs brought together an unprecedented lineup of superstars at their career peaks, creating iconic moments that defined a generation of pop music.