Everything you need to know ahead of the MTV VMAs

MTV’s highly anticipated Video Music Awards 2020 takes place tonight, with some new changes in place to accommodate COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The annual show celebrates the best music videos of the year, with this years’ ceremony being partially virtual.

Ahead of tonight’s show, we have gathered all the information you need to know – including the star-studded line-up, the hosts, and most importantly the nominees.

Where and when? 

This year’s show was due to take place in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York – but due to COVID restrictions, several outdoor performances will be held around New York instead, with limited or no audience.

The pre-recorded event will air at 8pm ET on MTV, which is 1am GMT on Monday in Ireland.

“The VMAs will highlight the boroughs in an exciting show and return to Barclays Center in 2021,” the network said.

“MTV will continue to work closely with the Department of Health, state and local officials, the medical community, and key stakeholders to ensure the safety of all involved.”

Hosts and pre-show performances

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Keke Palmer will host the main event, while Nessa and Jamila Mustafa will kick-off the pre-show.

Drew Barrymore, Madison Beer, Kelly Clarkson, Bella Hadid, Joey King, Bebe Rexha, and Jaden Smith are just some of the famous faces who will be presenting the awards on the night.

Lewis Capaldi is set to perform at the pre-show, along with other big names such as Chloe x Halle, Jack Harlow, Tate McRae and Machine Gun Kelly featuring Travis Barker and blackbear.

Performances

Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga will perform their track Rain On Me, while Miley Cyrus is expected to debut her new single Midnight Sky.

The Black Eyed Peas, BTS, CNCO, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Maluma, Roddy Ricch, and the Weeknd are also lined-up to perform tonight.

Nominations

Here is the full list of nominations for the 2020 VMAs:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

• Billie Eilish – “everything i wanted”
• Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla”
• Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me”
• Taylor Swift – “The Man”
• The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• DaBaby
• Justin Bieber
• Lady Gaga
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Post Malone
• The Weeknd

SONG OF THE YEAR

• Billie Eilish – “everything i wanted”
• Doja Cat – “Say So”
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me”
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”
• Post Malone – “Circles”
• Roddy Ricch – “The Box”

BEST GROUP

• 5 Seconds of Summer
• Blackpink
• BTS
• Chloe x Halle
• CNCO
• Little Mix
• Monsta X
• Now United
• The 1975
• Twenty One Pilots

BEST COLLABORATION

• Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U”
• Black Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin – “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
• Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid – “Beautiful People”
• Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
• Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me”

PUSH BEST NEW ARTIST

• Doja Cat
• Jack Harlow
• Lewis Capaldi
• Roddy Ricch
• Tate McRae
• YUNGBLUD

BEST POP

• BTS – “On”
• Halsey – “You should be sad”
• Jonas Brothers – “What a Man Gotta Do”
• Justin Bieber ft. Quavo – “Intentions”
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me”
• Taylor Swift – “Lover”

BEST HIP HOP

• DaBaby – “BOP”
• Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla”
• Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”
• Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
• Travis Scott – “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM”

BEST ROCK

• blink-182 – “Happy Days”
• Coldplay – “Orphans”
• Evanescence – “Wasted On You”
• Fall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean – “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)”
• Green Day – “Oh Yeah!”
• The Killers – “Caution”

BEST ALTERNATIVE

• The 1975 – “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”
• All Time Low – “Some Kind Of Disaster”
• FINNEAS – “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night”
• Lana Del Rey – “Doin’ Time”
• Machine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine”
• twenty one pilots – “Level of Concern”

BEST LATIN

• Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin – “China”
• Bad Bunny – “Yo Perreo Sola”
• Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul – “MAMACITA”
• J Balvin – “Amarillo”
• Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”
• Maluma ft. J Balvin – “Queì Pena”

BEST R&B

• Alicia Keys – “Underdog”
• Chloe x Halle – “Do It”
• H.E.R. ft. YG – “Slide”
• Khalid ft. Summer Walker – “Eleven”
• Lizzo – “Cuz I Love You”
• The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”

BEST K-POP

• (G)I-DLE – “Oh My God”
• BTS – “On”
• EXO – “Obsession”
• Monsta X – “SOMEONE’S SOMEONE”
• Tomorrow X Together – “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)”
• Red Velvet – “Psycho”

BEST DIRECTION

• Billie Eilish – “xanny” – Directed by Billie Eilish
• Doja Cat – “Say So” – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
• Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now” – Directed by Nabil
• Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Directed by Dave Meyers
• Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Directed by Taylor Swift
• The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – Directed by Anton Tammi

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• 5 Seconds of Summer – “Old Me” – Cinematography by Kieran Fowler
• Camila Cabello ft. DaBaby – “My Oh My” – Cinematography by Dave Meyers
• Billie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell” – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
• Katy Perry – “Harleys In Hawaii” – Cinematography by Arnau Valls
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Cinematography by Thomas Kloss
• The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – Cinematography by Oliver Millar

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Billie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell” – Visual Effects by Drive Studios
• Demi Lovato – “I Love Me” – Visual Effects by Hoody FX
• Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4
• Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Visual Effects by Mathematic
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
• Travis Scott – “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Visual Effects by ARTJAIL, SCISSOR FILMS & FRENDER

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

• BTS – “On” – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun
• CNCO & Natti Natasha – “Honey Boo” – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
• DaBaby – “BOP” – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
• Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
• Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Choreography by Richy Jackson
• Normani – “Motivation” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead

BEST EDITING

• Halsey – “Graveyard” – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
• James Blake – “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Edited by Frank Lebon
• Lizzo – “Good As Hell” – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan
• Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico
• ROSALIìA – “A Paleì” – Edited by Andre Jones
• The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana

Aside from the usual categories, new awards have been added to recognise music videos filmed at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The show will also honour healthcare workers in a special segment, “Everyday Heroes: Frontline Medical Workers,” which MTV said will “celebrate the best performances by first responders — doctors, nurses, and other frontline medical workers — who kept everyone going with their impromptu and off-the-cuff performances.”

VIDEO FOR GOOD

• Anderson .Paak – “Lockdown”
• Billie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell”
• Demi Lovato – “I Love Me”
• H.E.R. – “I Can’t Breathe”
• Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
• Taylor Swift – “The Man”

BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME

• 5 Seconds of Summer – “Wildflower”
• Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U”
• blink-182 – “Happy Days”
• Drake – “Toosie Slide”
• John Legend – “Bigger Love”
• twenty one pilots – “Level of Concern”

BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE

• Chloe & Halle – “Do It” from MTV’s Prom-athon
• CNCO – Unplugged At Home
• DJ D-Nice – Club MTV presents #DanceTogether
• John Legend – #togetherathome Concert Series
• Lady Gaga – “Smile” from One World: Together At Home
• Post Malone – Nirvana Tribute