Why Travis Kelce won’t be by Taylor Swift’s side at the MTV VMAs — the reason

Travis Kelce will miss the MTV Video Music Awards 2026 ceremony, where his wife, Taylor Swift, is expected to be one of the evening’s main stars. The 36-year-old won’t be able to accompany Swift to the ceremony, taking place Sunday in Los Angeles, because his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, have a game.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift will attend the awards ceremony alone, where she is nominated in a full 11 categories.

The evening is expected to be particularly significant for the singer, as she will also receive the first “Artist Director Honors” award, a new recognition honoring artists who have brought innovation to music video production and visual storytelling.

But the surprises for Swift don’t end there. During the ceremony she will premiere for the first time the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.

Swift had previously released a short teaser of the video, giving fans a first look at the two well-known actors.

The song “Patient Zero” is one of four new tracks included in the deluxe edition of her 2025 album, “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.” The other three songs are “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”