VMAs 2024 live updates: How to watch, what to expect, who's performing and more (2024)

No more Moon People for Queen Bey

“Directing this video and putting it together and writing it was the most wonderful experience," she said of making the "Fortnight" video with Post Malone. "And that is because of all the people that I got to make it with.”

She also took a moment to thank boyfriend Travis Kelce for cheering her on between takes.

Swift won the award in 2023 for “Anti-Hero” and in 2022 for “All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor’s Version).”

This LL Cool J performance feels like a time machine to the early 90s. Busta Rhymes tee'd up LL Cool J and Public Enemy to insert some classic hip hop into the VMAs.

LL nodded to some genre staples while also marking a comeback, performing a track featuring Saweetie from his new Q-Tip produced record "The Force," which dropped last week.

Taylor Swift wins the video of the year VMA for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

Anitta gave a shoutout to her country while holding her VMA for "Mil Veces," saying that her enthusiastic fans are the reason she gets to represent Brazil over and over at the show.

"Thank you so much everybody, I am so happy," Anitta said. "First of all, I wanna say thanks to my fans who vote and they're always supporting me."

She also called it an amazing year for Latin music, shouting out fellow nominee Karol G specifically for her monumental year.

Anitta wins the best Latin VMA for “Mil Veces.”

The rise of a Midwest Princess continues.

After making her VMAs debut with a performance of her breakout hit, "Good Luck, Babe!", Chappell Roan took home her first Moon Person for best new artist.

"I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me and I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop," Roan said in her speech, reading from her diary. On her "Midwest Princess" tour, Roan invited local drag artists to open her shows. She has also spoken extensively about the role drag plays in her own performances.

She added, "For all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you, because I’m one of you."

With the best new artist win, she joined the lofty company of artists like Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Cardi B, who have all won the award.

Chappell Roan wins the best new artist VMA.

The crowd was on its feet as the Memphis rapper performed "Yeah Glo!," which was nominated in the best hip-hop category.

She also played her hit "TGIF" as her backup dancers hyped up the audience atop a long dining table.

From inside a glass case on stage, Camila Cabello performed a mash-up that started with "June Gloom" and transitioned into "GODSPEED." It was a return to the stage for the singer, who last performed at the show in 2021.

LISA wins the best K-pop VMA for “Rockstar.”

After winning the Moon Person for best rock earlier in the evening, Lenny Kravitz performed on the VMAs stage for the first time since his 1998 appearance with Madonna.

Kravitz performed a medley featuring a reprise of his 1993 VMA performance of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" along with two 2024 releases, "Human," and "FLY." He finished off with a special appearance from rapper Quavo.

Eminem wins the best hip-hop VMA for “Houdini.”

LISA, known for her role in girl group BlackPink, accepted the moon person for best K-pop tonight. She called her winning song, "Rockstar," a "meaningful comeback" in her career.

Eminem’s “Houdini” wins the best visual effects VMA. Visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic and Flawless Post.

Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” wins the best choreography VMA. Choreography by Charm La’Donna.

Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” wins the best editing VMA. Editing by Chancler Haynes.

Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone wins the best direction VMA. Directed by Taylor Swift.

Megan Thee Stallion’s “BOA” wins the best art direction VMA. Art direction by Brittany Porter.

Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” wins the best cinematography VMA. Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov.

Billie Eilish wins the video for good VMA for “What Was I Made For? (From The Motion Picture ‘Barbie’).”

SZA wins the best R&B VMA for “Snooze.”

Taylor Swift wins the best pop VMA.

Taylor Swift wins the artist of the year VMA.

Halsey just rocked out on stage, performing her latest single “Ego” in a makeshift garage.

The singer, who arrived on the carpet with long red hair and a matching gown, seemingly ditched her long locks before stepping on stage in a fiery pixie cut.

Before the show began, Rauw Alejandro told interviewers he wanted to honor his Puerto Rican culture on stage tonight. He added that he also wanted to throw in nods to New York, where many Puerto Ricans have created tight-knit communities.

Alejandro delivered by honoring his Nuyorican roots on a set that emulated the city's apartment rooftops. He was joined by dancers and musicians who helped bring a slice of the island's musical heritage to the stage.

Sabrina Carpenter wins the song of the year VMA for “Espresso.”

The South African singer Tyla won for her hit song "Water," which also spawned a viral trend on TikTok.

"African music can be pop music too," she said. "This is just so special but also bittersweet because I know there's a tendency to group all African artists under afrobeats."

The artist is also nominated for best new artist.

"African music is so diverse, it's more than just Afrobeats," she said as she accepted her award.

Tyla wins the best Afrobeats VMA for “Water.”

After a loving intro from drag queen Sasha Colby, Chappell Roan took the VMAs stage in full armor in front of a burning castle as she sang "Good Luck, Babe!" her hit summer single that has helped propel her to stardom.

Roan's rise to fame began with an opening act during Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" tour in the Spring, which then paved the way for a sold-out festival circuit, all leading her to tonight's stage, where she is nominated for her first major awards including best new artist.

Roan credits Colby with a slogan she's used to reference herself — "your favorite artist's favorite artist." After shouting that on stage this summer, Roan said she got the quote from Colby, who coined "your favorite drag queen's favorite drag queen."

Colby introduced Roan tonight as "your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist."

It's been about an hour since anyone accepted an award, with the exception of Katy Perry's pre-announced Vanguard award.

While there were quite a few awards announced in the pre-show livestream, no other statues have been given out since Taylor Swift and Post Malone accepted the best collaboration award.

Katy Perry gave a high-energy performance ahead of her acceptance of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

She was introduced by her fiancé Orlando Bloom, who gave a heartfelt tribute to the longtime pop star, noting that “the remarkable world she creates has brought a sense of joy and laughter, inspiring generations of people from all over the world.”

She took the stage in a cloud of colored smoke, held up by cables as she sang a mashup of “Dark Horse” and “E.T.” in mid-air. The singer then brought Doechii onstage for a snippet of their upcoming release “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE.”

Perry continued the show with a nostalgic string of her fan-favorites — “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed a Girl” and “Firework" —before ending with her latest release "LIFETIMES" and sharing a post-performance kiss with Bloom.

"Thank you. I did that all on my first day of my period, too, can you believe it?" she said breathlessly as she accepted her Moon Person.

"I just want to say with my whole heart: Do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art," she added in her speech. "Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass."

Always one to keep people on their toes, Taylor Swift has made an unexpected outfit change.

While Swift arrived in a punk plaid ensemble, she appears to now be seated in a sparkling green gown. The singer was seen on an online stream in a beaded outfit that had a spaceship display, a likely nod to her performance of "Down Bad" during the "The Eras Tour," which features visuals of a UFO.

With pyrotechnics and leather outfits, LISA put on a rockin' show for her performance on the VMAs stage.

She started her performance with her latest single "New Woman," although Rosalia, her collaborator on the song, was absent.

She then transitioned into "Rockstar," which is nominated in the best K-Pop category.

With a large yellow snake wrapped around her body, Megan Thee Stallion gave a nod to Britney Spears' iconic "I'm a Slave 4 U" VMAs performance by wearing the same green and blue two piece while performing her hosting duties.

"I don’t know this snake, this snake don’t know me," she said. She then screamed as someone tried to remove the snake from her body.

Chappell Roan is no longer just “your favorite artist’s favorite artist.”

Roan, who is known for the queer themes in her music and her drag-inspired aesthetic, is among the recent crop of artists who have hit unforeseen career highs in recent months, despite being considered part of pop music’s “middle class.”

This designation has typically been associated with artists who have cultivated devoutonline fan bases, but who are not necessarily household names.

A-list pop stardom has become increasingly difficult to achieve. But some music industry experts say the recent rise of Roan and others — including Sabrina Carpenter, Tinashe and Charli XCX — is a testament to their authenticity and ability to foster such strong fandoms.

Read the full story here.

Taylor Swift just took home her second Moon Person of the night with a win for best collaboration for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. She opened her acceptance speech with an acknowledgement of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks given the event's location in New York.

Speaking about her music video, Swift described her collaborator Post Malone as “everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with.”

“And it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile and you’re the most down to earth person,” Swift said. “Honestly, so unfailingly polite, it has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ‘ma’am.’”

After being stripped of her Olympic bronze medal shortly after leaving Paris, Flavor Flav followed through on his promise to award Jordan Chiles a custom-made replacement.

"I gotcha something that they can't take away from you," Flavor Flav told the two-time Olympian on the VMAs stage. He bestowed her with a bronze clock necklace and tied it on her neck himself.

The host opened the show with a message to everyone watching.

“Shout out to my hotties, and my haties ‘cause I know y’all watching too,” she said.

She donned a Team USA-inspired leotard while greeting viewers. She then passed the mic to Jordan Chiles and Flavor Flav.

Flav gave Chiles a bronze clock and promised to gift her the prize money she lost after her bronze medal was stripped from her after last month's Paris Olympic Games.

Taylor Swift wins the best collaboration VMA for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

Opening the show with his song "Houdini," off of his latest album "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)," the rapper brought a gang of his alter egos to support him on stage. He also brought a doppelgänger who looked strikingly similar to his younger self.

Jelly Roll also made a virtual appearance to perform with Eminem on their collaboration "Somebody Save Me."

The VMA for best rock video went to Lenny Kravitz for “Human”from his 2024 album, “Blue Electric Light.”

He dedicated the award to his late mother, who died in 1995.

"31 years ago, my mother was with me," he said after his win. "The last time she was with me at an award show was at the VMAs and so I dedicate this to her.”

Kravitz will perform at tonight's ceremony for the first time since 1998.

The highly anticipated arrival of Taylor Swift is finally here as the singer poses for the cameras ahead of tonight's show. She won a VMA for song of summer before even setting foot on the carpet.

Swift is known for using her award show outfits as a way to clue in fans about her upcoming projects. Last year, Swift's black and white dress at the Grammys hinted at her announcement of the album "The Tortured Poets Department" later during the show. That came after she announced her album "Midnights" at the 2022 VMAs, wearing a silver-draped dress that hinted at a new "Bejewled" era for the singer.

So with fans eager for her to drop "reputation (Taylor's Version)," is her outfit signaling any easter eggs for news to come?

Lenny Kravitz wins the best rock VMA for “Human.”

Taylor Swift has officially won her first award of the night.

Her single "Fortnight" from "The Tortured Poets Department" won song of the summer, which was announced on the VMAs red carpet before the awards show even kicked off.

If she takes home at least six more of the 12 awards she's nominated for tonight, she will match Beyoncé's record for most VMA wins.

Megan Thee Stallion was caught off guard by the news of her own win as pre-show host Kevan Kenney abruptly handed her a Moon Person. The rapper, who is also hosting the VMAs this year, clinched the best trending video award for “Mamushi” featuring Yuki Chiba.

“Me and Yuki recorded that song in Japan in like, a small apartment studio, and we were just messing around,” Megan said, adding that she was "shocked" by fans' embrace of the song.

The singer is up for six more categories tonight.

The self-proclaimed "Childless Cat Lady" endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after Tuesday night's debate, inspiring some 330,000 visits to vote.gov in the process. It's unclear if the pop star will continue speaking out about politics in the weeks before the election.

Justine Goode

Chelsea StahlChelsea Stahl is the art director for NBC News Digital

Justine Goode and Chelsea Stahl

It's your favorite artists' favorite looks! See them all here.

Taylor Swift wins the song of summer VMA for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

This year’s show had originally been scheduled for Sept. 10 but was moved to Sept. 11 because the broadcast would clash with Tuesday’s presidential debate.

The show’s producers plan to recognize the 9/11 attacks by donating proceeds from the show to 9/11 Day, a nonprofit that organizes community service programs on the anniversary of the attacks, and Tuesday’s Children, which helps support impacted families.

Pop sensation Taylor Swift is the most nominated artist of the night, with the potential to make history by breaking fellow nominee Beyoncé's record.

Swift is up for a total of 12 awards, including video of the year, artist of the year and song of the year. Currently, Swift has a total of 23 VMAs throughout her career and is seven awards shy of matching Beyoncé's record of 30.

But Beyoncé is also nominated for several VMAs tonight following the success of her country album "Cowboy Carter" — which was notably snubbed from the Country Music Association Awards earlier this week. The album's hit song, "Texas Hold 'Em," is up against Swift's "Fortnight" for song of the year.

British actress and singer Naomi Scott, who plays pop star Skye Riley in the upcoming film “Smile 2,” said her character drew inspiration from some of the pop stars here tonight.

As for the movie itself, slated to release in theaters Oct. 18, the first-time VMA attendee teased it as being “kind of like the first movie, but on steroids and a lot of party drugs.

“It’s very intense, but it’s so fun and so unhinged and also kind of funny,” Scott said. “My director brought me in to watch some of the edit, and I remember just being like, I wish I was here with my best friend, because we would just be grabbing each other laughing and screaming.”

After a 10-year break from releasing music, LL Cool J dropped his 14th studio album, "The Force," on Friday.

"I wanted to show the people that I came up with that your dreams don't have deadlines," he said on the MTV pre-show. "You could continue to do this thing at a high level. You don't have to be successful at one age and then all of a sudden taper off and wallow around in mediocrity."

He is set to perform in tonight’s ceremony, but the legendary artist's relationship with the VMAs started 27 years ago. LL Cool J became the first rap artist to win the VideoVanguard Award in 1997, which he noted as his favorite VMAs moment.

"I am a kid raised on hip hop ... So that was an unbelievable moment," he said of the honor.

Two-time Olympic champion Jordan Chiles made her first public appearances on Wednesday since she was stripped of her bronze medal from the Paris Olympic Games.

"This is a dream come true to be able to come to the VMAs," Chiles said. "Meeting people, especially celebrities out here." Despite the big names in the room, Chiles said her Olympic resume has prepared her for this moment.

Competing is "harder than doing an interview," she joked.

Hours before the VMAs ceremony, Chiles spoke at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit in New York City, where she said the controversy was more about "peace" and "justice" for her than the medal itself.

"The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was, not just my sport, but the person I am ... the star is never going to get dimmed." she said.

Megan Thee Stallion wins the best trending video VMA for “Mamushi” featuring Yuki Chiba.

Katy Perry is serving a wet look on the carpet. She will be performing a medley of her biggest hits later tonight in celebration of her Video Vanguard award, which celebrates an artists' career and impact on pop culture.

The TikToker-turned-pop star arrived on the carpet wearing a white feathery bikini set with a tulle bustle.

She said the look was partly inspired by Madonna, who wore a wedding dress in her performance of "Like A Virgin" during the 1984 VMAs.

The "Diet Pepsi" singer is a presenter at tonight's awards.

Chappell, who is nominated for best new artist alongside three other categories, said it would be “awesome” if she won — noting that she’s “never won anything.” If she does cinch the category, she said, she wants to give a shoutout to her ex: “You got me here.”

Chappell said she’s a bit nervous about performing in front of her peers tonight, many of whom she said she looks up to. The pop star teased in a red-carpet interview with MTV that her performance will include “a lot of technical things going on that I’ve never had happen.”

She also shared a few details about the medieval look she donned on the carpet.

“That robe that I had on ... was 300 years old. And then the rug that was rolled out is 600 years old," she said.

Katy Perry wins the most iconic performance VMA for “Roar.”

The winner for best alternative is Benson Boone for his song “Beautiful Things,” awarded during the pre-show livestream on YouTube.

Boone thanked the fans for all their support and their votes as he accepted the Moon Man statue in an interview on the carpet.

“You know what? This has been the craziest year of my life so far,” Boone said. “I’m truly honored to be in this crowd of people... it’s been pretty insane for me.”

When asked about his performance to come later tonight, Boone just said, “lot of sparkles, lots of flips.”

Halsey put the red in red carpet tonight (although the VMAs carpet is technically black), with long, bright red locks and a gown to match.

She also teased her later performance of a new song called "Ego," which officially dropped on Friday as the fourth single in the lead up to her highly-anticipated album, "The Great Impersonator."

In June, the singer revealed she has been battling chronic illnesses in a social media post tied to the release of "The End," another song on her upcoming album. In the post, Halsey did not confirm any diagnoses.

"long story short, i'm Lucky to be alive. short story long, i wrote an album," Halsey wrote in the post.

If the Grammys are the music industry's biggest night, the VMAs may be the most entertaining.

Since the first VMAs were held in New York City's Radio City Music Hall in 1984, an astounding number of prolific moments in pop culture history have taken place with the iconic "moon person" statue standing nearby.

From Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 ceremony to Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera shocking early 2000's America by kissing onstage, the VMAs have a knack for crystalizing cultural moments. Many of these moments will likely be revisited tonight in the new most iconic performance category.

The singer's TikTok-viral song "Made For Me" is nominated in the best R&B category.

Jason and Travis Kelce are excited for everyone nominated for a moon man tonight, but they're especially hyped for Taylor Swift.

The brothers plugged the award show as one of the advertisements in this morning's episode of their podcast "New Heights." Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce proudly pointed out that his girlfriend was up for multiple VMA awards.

"Let's go, Tay! Come on, Tay!" Jason Kelce cheered.

"Stay on top! Here we go," Travis Kelce said while clapping. "Wishing everybody the best though."

"Unless you're up against Tay, then I hope you lose," his brother joked.

Brazilian sensation Anitta has arrived at the VMAs ahead of her expected performance in a wedding-style dress and veil.

“It’s a little spoiler of something,” the singer told MTV on the red carpet. “But I can’t say much.”

Sabrina Carpenter has arrived dressed in head-to-toe white. Carpenter dominated the summer charts and is nominated for seven categories tonight —including artist of the year, song of the year and song of summer. Fans are also awaiting a highly anticipated performance tonight.

South Korean girl group LE SSERAFIM just hyped up the black carpet with a pre-show performance of "1-800-hot-n-fun," a track off their fourth EP "Crazy." The group is up tonight for PUSH performance of the year for “EASY."

The country artist has had a major year, from snagging two features on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" to releasing a smash hit with "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," which is nominated for song of the summer.

LISA, known for her work as part of K-Pop group Blackpink and as a soloist, is nominated in the best K-Pop category for her single "Rockstar." She is also expected to perform tonight.

In an interview with MTV on the carpet, she shared why her music video for the song was so special.

"I had a chance to shoot in my home country, in Bangkok, and I think it's really cool," she said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of MTV's Video Music Awards.

Over the course of its history, the VMAs have remained a cornerstone of the music awards landscape despite drastic changes in the music, video and broadcast landscapes.

The show has kept its relevance in part by delivering moments of controversy that ultimately shaped pop culture history. It's also managed to integrate digital platforms into its programming, including by adding categories that honor social media success and even allowing viewers to vote for their favorite artists via Instagram stories.

The rockstar is nominated in the best rock category tonight for "Human."

Once a niche pop singer from Missouri trying to make it in Los Angeles, Chappell Roan has skyrocketed to mainstream fame over the past year. Known for the queer themes in her music as well as her drag-inspired aesthetic, Roan’s high-energy music — paired with her deeply emotional lyricism — has earned her a cult following online.

Her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” released last September, became a sleeper hit that further cemented her status this summer as a rising pop icon. The album charted in the top five on the U.S. Billboard 200 earlier this year, after Roan’s stint as Olivia Rodrigo’s opening act and the release of her hit followup single, “Good Luck, Babe!”

The artist has been open in speaking about the impact of sudden fame on her mental health, recently telling Rolling Stone that "it's been a really hard adjustment."

Chappell Roan has arrived at the VMAs —holding a sword. The rising pop star is up for four categories this year, including best new artist and song of summer. She's also one of the night's most anticipated performers.

The pop star and recently departed American Idol judge dominated the 2010s with hits like “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls” and “Roar,” delivering some classic, candy-colored music videos along the way.

Now, ahead of her upcoming album “143,” she is being honored with the Video Vanguard Award, which celebrates artists who have made major contributions to music videos and popular culture.

As is tradition with the winners of this award, Perry will perform a medley of her biggest hits.

The Colombian superstar has arrived at the VMAs red carpet. She said her outfit and performance tonight will honor her Latino community.

"It's about fire," the singer said on the carpet about her dress. "Latina community has fire everywhere," she told MTV.

She is nominated in the best latin category for “MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN.”

The VMAs will have a star-studded lineup of presenters this year, from celebs to influencers and even an Olympian. Here’s the full list:

• Addison Rae
• Alessandra Ambrosio
• Amelia Dimoldenberg
• Big Sean
• Busta Rhymes
• Cyndi Lauper
• Damiano David (Måneskin)
• DANNA
• DJ Khaled
• Fat Joe
• Flavor Flav
• French Montana
• Halle Bailey
• Jordan Chiles
• Lil Nas X
• Miranda Lambert
• Naomi Scott
• Paris Hilton
• Sasha Colby
• Suki Waterhouse
• Thalía
• Tinashe

The artist is nominated in the best latin category for “Touching The Sky” and is expected to perform tonight.

If you missed the chance to vote on some of the major VMA categories, fear not. Voting for best new artist will remain open into the live show. The three remaining contenders are:

• Chappell Roan
• Gracie Abrams
• Tyla

Megan Thee Stallion is wrapping up her hot girl summer on the VMAs stage. The rapper had an epic summer promoting her third studio album on her first headlining tour, aptly titled the "Hot Girl Summer Tour."

Now, she’s coming to New York to host and perform at the VMAs.

The event will air live on MTV starting at 8.pm. ET. You can also catch the entire show streaming on Fubo TV and other Paramount-owned channels including VH1, BET, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network and Comedy Central.

Celebrities are starting to make their way down the VMAs red carpet. Viewers can watch pre-show red carpet coverage starting at 6:30p ET on the MTV YouTube channel.

The VMAs are broadcasting live from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York. Last year, the awards show was held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

Eminem is set to open the show with songs from his most recent album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).”

Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, the two rising stars who arguably defined this summer's pop music landscape, will also perform.

Speaking of pop queens, Katy Perry will return to the VMAs for the first time since 2017 to accept the Video Vanguard Award and perform her biggest hits.

Other performers include host Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Anitta, Camila Cabello, Halsey, Karol G, Lenny Kravitz, LE SSERAFIM, LISA, LL Cool J, Rauw Alejandro, Shawn Mendes and Jessie Murph.

Video of the year

• Ariana Grande — “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
• Billie Eilish — “LUNCH”
• Doja Cat — “Paint The Town Red”
• Eminem — “Houdini”
• SZA — “Snooze”
• Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone — “Fortnight”

Artist of the year

• Ariana Grande
• Bad Bunny
• Eminem
• Sabrina Carpenter
• SZA
• Taylor Swift