Everything to know about the 2024 VMAs:
- Megan Thee Stallion hosted the MTV Video Music Awards show at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
- Taylor Swift came into the show with 12 nominations, the most of any artist. Post Malone followed with nine nominations, while Ariana Grande, Eminem and Sabrina Carpenter each had six.
- Katy Perry received MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and performed a career-spanning medley live. Other performers this year included Carpenter, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla and Rauw Alejandro.
- The VMAs have a history of memorable and provocative red carpet looks. See this year's stand-out outfits.
The 40th MTV Video Music Awards were chock-full of performances and peppered with memories of the award show’s storied four-decade history.
Taylor Swift took home the biggest award of the night — video of the year — in addition to six others, tying her with Beyoncé for the most VMA wins ever. After tonight, Swift and Beyoncé have 30 Moon People each to their names.
Chappell Roan took home the first major award of her career for best new artist, beating out Gracie Abrams and Tyla after a show-stopping summer on the festival circuit.
Iconic moments from VMAs past also got their place to shine. Notably, host Megan Thee Stallion took the stage with a live snake roped around her body as an homage to Britney Spears’ 2001 “I’m a Slave 4 U” performance. A supercut of such moments also featured Miley Cyrus twerking onstage with Robin Thicke in 2013 and Madonna’s 1984 “Like A Virgin” performance, among many others.
Tonight’s show ushered in a new era of iconic moments, as well, from Sabrina Carpenter’s kissing an alien during a mashup of her newest singles to Benson Boone’s flips off his piano and Roan’s performance in front of a burning castle.
No more Moon People for Queen Bey
Beyoncé was nominated for three awards tonight — song of the year, best trending video and most iconic performance — but ultimately did not win any.
The lackluster VMAs showing follows her being shut out of the Country Music Award nominations that were announced on Monday after coming out with her first country album, "Cowboy Carter."
Beyoncé still holds the record for most VMAs with 30 statues, although she's now tied with Taylor Swift, who won seven awards tonight.
Taylor Swift snags video of the year for third year in a row
“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).”
LL Cool J take some of us back
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.
Video of the year
Taylor Swift wins the video of the year VMA for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.
Anitta thanks Brazil for her VMA
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.
Best Latin
Anitta wins the best Latin VMA for “Mil Veces.”
Chappell Roan dedicates first VMA to her LGBTQ fans
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.
Best new artist
Chappell Roan wins the best new artist VMA.
GloRilla cranks up the energy
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.
Camila Cabello returns to the VMA stage
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.