Build Your Own MTV VMAs 2026 Hitster Pack with Hitify

In just a couple of weeks, the music world turns its eyes to the MTV Video Music Awards 2026, one of the biggest nights in pop culture. Every August since 1984, the VMAs have celebrated the best music videos of the year, but they have become so much more: a stage for career-defining performances, shocking moments, political statements, and unforgettable pop history.

With the VMAs just around the corner, there is no better time to celebrate over four decades of iconic award-winning music. And with Hitify, you can identify every song you hear, discover the history behind each hit, and build your own custom Hitster pack for an unforgettable music game night.

What Are the MTV VMAs?

The MTV Video Music Awards launched in 1984 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, created to celebrate the art of the music video at the height of MTV's cultural dominance. From Madonna rolling on the floor in a wedding dress to Kanye interrupting Taylor Swift, from Beyonce's moonbump reveal to Michael Jackson receiving the Video Vanguard Award, the VMAs have given us some of the most memorable moments in entertainment history.

The ceremony features awards like Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and the coveted Moonperson trophy. Winners span every genre, from pop and hip-hop to rock and R&B, making the VMAs the perfect source for a musically diverse Hitster pack.

What is Hitster?

Hitster is the addictive card game where you guess the release year of songs. Each card has a QR code that plays the actual track through your phone. You listen, then try to place the card in the correct chronological position on your timeline. The closer you are to the right year, the more points you score. It is the perfect game for music fans of all ages.

With Hitify, you can scan any song playing around you and instantly identify it, including its title, artist, and release year. That makes Hitify the perfect companion for building a custom Hitster pack themed around any event, including the VMAs.

Build Your MTV VMAs Hitster Pack

The beauty of a VMAs-themed Hitster pack is the incredible span of decades you can cover. From 1984 to today, VMA winners and iconic performers have given us some of the most timeless songs in music history. Here are 12 iconic tracks to include in your VMA-themed Hitster pack:

• "Like a Virgin" - Madonna (1984) - her legendary opening performance at the very first VMAs launched a career and an era
• "Take On Me" - A-ha (1986) - won five VMA awards including Video of the Year for its groundbreaking pencil-sketch animation
• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana (1992) - their chaotic VMA performance introduced grunge to a global mainstream audience
• "Waterfalls" - TLC (1995) - won three VMAs and became one of the defining pop anthems of the 90s
• "Lose Yourself" - Eminem (2003) - a VMA winner that remains one of the greatest rap songs ever recorded
• "Crazy in Love" - Beyonce ft. Jay-Z (2003) - her debut solo single dominated the VMAs and announced one of music's greatest careers
• "Umbrella" - Rihanna (2007) - won Video of the Year and marked Rihanna's transformation into a global superstar
• "Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga (2009) - Video of the Year winner that redefined what a pop music video could be
• "Shake It Off" - Taylor Swift (2014) - led a night that cemented Taylor's transition from country to pure pop domination
• "HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar (2017) - Video of the Year and one of the most visually striking rap videos of the decade
• "bad guy" - Billie Eilish (2019) - her VMA-winning breakthrough made her the voice of a generation
• "drivers license" - Olivia Rodrigo (2021) - swept the VMAs on debut and became one of the fastest-rising careers in pop history

These tracks span 1984 to 2021, giving you nearly four decades of music history to place in the right order. Ready to start? Visit hitify.app and start scanning the biggest award-winning songs in VMA history.