On 13 September, the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey was lit up with electrifying performances from some of music’s biggest acts for the MTV VMAs 2023. The awards night was hosted by Nicki Minaj (who also performed) and featured a stacked lineup of over 20 acts, which included the likes of Shakira, Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, and more. Significantly, this year’s VMAs saw a celebration of female star power as many of the nominations were dominated by female acts. For example, the Artist of the Year nominees featured all women, marking the first time since the category was introduced in 2017 for this to happen.
The VMAs also continued to move with the times as it caters to more diverse music genres. Namely, BTS’ brother group TXT graced the stage with Latin artist Anitta for their single Back for More and JYP Entertainment’s boy group Stray Kids made their VMAs debut with S-Class. Both artists won Push Performance of the Year and Best K-pop, respectively.
In addition, Jungkook won Song of Summer with his debut single Seven and BlackPink received the Group of the Year and Best Choreography awards. A new category titled Best Afrobeats was also introduced this year which Selena Gomez and Rema took home for Calm Down. Although she didn’t perform, Ice Spice received the Best New Artist award at her first VMA appearance. The drill rapper has been enjoying tremendous success after going viral with Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 in the past year.
Out of all the nominees, global pop icon Taylor Swift emerged as the biggest winner of the night. The singer bagged a total of nine ‘moon man’ statues, making her the second most-awarded artist at the VMAs.
Some of her awards include Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Midnights and Video of the Year for Anti-Hero. Excitingly, NSYNC made a surprise reunion on stage to present Swift with the Best Pop Award!
Shakira was honoured with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award—the first South American artist to do so—and gave an exhilarating 10-minute medley performance of her biggest hits such as She-Wolf, Hips Don’t Lie and Whenever, Wherever.
Meanwhile, rap veteran Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs took home the Global Icon Award after performing several of his hits. The show was closed out by Grandmaster Flash, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, and more in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Ahead, here is the full list of nominations and winners for the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
Note: Winners are in bold.
Video of the Year
Doja Cat – Attention
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Artist of the Year
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Rema and Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best New Artist
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp
Best Direction
Doja Cat – Attention (dir. Tanu Muño)
Drake – Falling Back (dir. Director X)
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out (dir. Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar)
Megan Thee Stallion – Her (dir. Colin Tilley)
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy (dir. Floria Sigismondi)
SZA – Kill Bill (dir. Christian Breslauer)
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero (dir. Taylor Swift)
Best Collaboration
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
Post Malone and Doja Cat – I Like You (A Happier Song)
Diddy featuring Bryson Tiller, Ashanti and Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
Karol G & Shakira – TQG
Metro Boomin featuring The Weeknd, 21 Savage and Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
Rema and Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Best Hip-Hop
Diddy Featuring Bryson Tiller, Ashanti & Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
DJ Khaled featuring Drake and Lil Baby – Staying Alive
Glorilla and Cardi B – Tomorrow 2
Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
Lil Wayne Featuring Swizz Beatz and DMX – Kant Nobody
Metro Boomin Featuring Future – Superhero (Heroes and Villains)
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr – Rush
Burna Boy – It’s Plenty
Davido featuring Musa Keys – Unavailable
Fireboy DML and Asake – Bandana
Libianca – People
Rema and Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Wizkid featuring Ayra Starr – 2 Sugar
Best Latin
Anitta – Funk Rave
Bad Bunny – Where She Goes
Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma – Ella Baila Sola
Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny – Un X100to
Karol G and Shakira – TQG
Rosalía – Despechá
Shakira – Acróstico
Best R&B
Alicia Keys featuring Lucky Daye – Stay
Chlöe featuring Chris Brown – How Does It Feel
Metro Boomin Featuring The Weeknd, 21 Savage and Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
SZA – Shirt
Toosii – Favorite Song
Yung Bleu and Nicki Minaj – Love in the Way
Best K-Pop
Aespa – Girls
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Fifty Fifty – Cupid
Seventeen – Super
Stray Kids – S-Class
Tomorrow X Together – Sugar Rush Ride
Best Pop
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
P!nk – Trustfall
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Alternative
Blink-182 – Edging
Boygenius – The Film
Fall Out Boy – Hold Me Like a Grudge
Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Paramore – This Is Why
Thirty Seconds to Mars – Stuck
Best Rock
Foo Fighters – The Teacher
Linkin Park – Lost (Original Version)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tippa My Tongue
Måneskin – The Loneliest
Metallica – Lux Æterna
Muse – You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween
Best Cinematography
Adele – I Drink Wine
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Janelle Monáe – Lipstick Lover
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Visual Effects
Fall Out Boy – Love From the Other Side
Harry Styles – Music for a Sushi Restaurant
Melanie Martinez – Void
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Choreography
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Jonas Brothers – Waffle House
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
Panic! at the Disco – Middle of a Breakup
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Art Direction
Boygenius – The Film
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Doja Cat – Attention
Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
SZA – Shirt
Best Editing
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Kendrick Lamar – Rich Spirit
Miley Cyrus – River
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Video for Good
Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)
Bad Bunny – El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dove Cameron – Breakfast
Imagine Dragons – Crushed
Maluma – La Reina
Push Performance of the Year
August 2022: Saucy Santana – Booty
September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – Until I Found You
October 2022: Jvke – Golden Hour
November 2022: Flo Milli – Conceited
December 2022: Reneé Rapp – Colorado
January 2023: Sam Ryder – All the Way Over
February 2023: Armani White – Goated
March 2023: Fletcher – Becky’s So Hot
April 2023: Tomorrow X Together – Sugar Rush Ride
May 2023: Ice Spice – Princess Diana
June 2023: Flo – Losing You
July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – That Part
Show of the Summer (Social Only)
Beyoncé
Blackpink
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Karol G
Taylor Swift
Group of the Year (Social Only)
Blackpink
Fifty Fifty
Flo
Jonas Brothers
Måneskin
NewJeans
Seventeen
Tomorrow x Together
Album of the Year (Social Only)
Beyoncé – Renaissance
Drake and 21 Savage – Her Loss
Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
SZA – SOS
Taylor Swift – Midnights
Song of the Summer (Social Only)
Beyoncé – Cuff It
Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red
Doechii Featuring Kodak Black – What It Is
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Fifty Fifty – Cupid
Gunna – Fukumean
Jung Kook Featuring Latto – Seven
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice – Barbie World
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – Karma
Tomorrow x Together and Jonas Brothers – Do It Like That
Luke Combs – Fast Car
Troye Sivan – Rush
Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma – La Bebé (Remix)
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