IT’S TIME Y’ALL — THE VMAs ARE HAPPENING IN JUST A FEW HOURS!
The 2023 MTV VMAs are taking over New Jersey this evening, bringing all of our favorite music industry icons and up-and-comers together for a can’t-miss show at the Prudential Center in Newark.
While the VMAs are always iconic, this year’s will really have everyone talking for many reasons. From nominees and performances to a new hosting format and special guests, this year’s show is about to turn heads for all the right reasons. Plus, artists like Taylor Swift, SZA, BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo are up for a ton of hardware this evening, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER will make history with their VMAs debut as the first K-Pop band to cross-genre for an international performance with Brazilian superstar and global sensation Anitta.
To make sure you are fully prepared for later, Celeb Secrets put together a cheat sheet on all things VMAs. From a complete list of celebs making appearances to where to watch and more, this list has got ya covered.
Give us a follow on Twitter at @celebsecrets and IG at @celebsecrets, as we’ll be live tweeting (and Instagramming) the best moments from both the pre-show and the main event.
When are the 2023 MTV VMAs?
The 2023 MTV VMAs air TONIGHT, September 12th @ 8PM ET on MTV, with the official 2023 “VMAs” Pre-Show airing on Tuesday, September 12th at 6:30pm ET/PT on MTV as well.
Where can you watch the show?
As we just mentioned, you can watch the 2023 MTV VMAs LIVE on MTV beginning at 8PM ET. It will also simulcast across MTV’s global footprint of linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories, reaching over 319 million households.
A live hosted simulcast will concurrently be on UniMás and an encore to follow on Univision at 11:30PM ET/PT, making it available to the most global audience in “VMAs” history. It will also simulcast across MTV sister networks BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TVLand & VH1.
Will there be a red carpet?
Red carpets are back and better than ever, and we’re pretty sure that our favorite celebs will bring their A-game when they pose for photos before going into the 2023 MTV VMAs.
This year, the VMAs pre-show will be hosted by Saweetie with Nessa, Dometi Pongo and Kevan Kenney and will feature performances by NLE Choppa featuring Nelly, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Fans can get in on the action when by tuning into the special event beginning at 6:30pm ET/PT on MTV.
Who is nominated?
There are 15 gender-neutral categories at the VMAs, and to no surprise, Taylor Swift leads the pack with eleven chances to win a moon person this year! SZA isn’t too far behind with a whopping eight nods, followed by BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, and Olivia Rodrigo with six each, and Kim Petras and Sam Smith with five each.
Additionally, MTV recently unveiled the VMA nominees in the social categories for 2023 earlier this week, which includes Group of the Year, Song of the Summer, and Album of the Year.
Voting already went down on @MTV‘s Instagram Stories for these categories, however, fans can still cast their vote for “Album of the Year” and “Best New Artist” as well as see if their favorite won by watching both the pre-show and main event later this evening.
- Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
- BLACKPINK – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
- Drake – OVO / Republic Records
- Ed Sheeran – Atlantic Records
- Karol G – Interscope Records
- Taylor Swift – Republic Records
- BLACKPINK – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
- FIFTY FIFTY – ATTRAKT / Warner Records
- FLO – Uptown Records/Republic Records
- Jonas Brothers – Republic Records
- Måneskin – Arista Records
- NewJeans – ADOR/Geffen Records
- SEVENTEEN – HYBE / Geffen Records
- TOMORROW x TOGETHER – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records
- Beyoncé – “Cuff It” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
- Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For? (From The Motion Picture ‘Barbie’)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
- Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
- Doechii ft. Kodak Black – “What It Is (Block Boy)” – Top Dawg Entertainment / Capitol Records
- Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night (From the Barbie Album)” – Atlantic Records / Warner Records
- FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid” – ATTRAKT / Warner Records
- Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment
- Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
- Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice– “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” – 10k Projects / Capitol Records / Dolo Entertainment / Atlantic Records
- Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
- SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
- Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice – “Karma” – Republic Records
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers – “Do It Like That” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records
- Luke Combs – “Fast Car” – Columbia Nashville
- Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records
- Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma – “La Bebe (Remix)” – Warner Music Latina
- Beyoncé – Renaissance – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
- Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss – OVO / Republic Records
- Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains – Boominati / Republic Records
- Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation – Columbia Records
- SZA – SOS – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
- Taylor Swift – Midnights – Republic Records
You can view a full list of nominees here.
What about the performers?
The VMAs are known for putting on some of the biggest and buzzworthy performances in award show history, and this year will be no different. Later tonight, viewers will see Anitta, Cardi B, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, Måneskin, Megan Thee Stallion, Metro Boomin featuring Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee & NAV, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER all take the stage throughout the three-hour telecast, with performances from Kaliii, Reneé Rapp and The Warning on the Extended Play Stage Presented by Doritos®.
Additionally, MTV and BACARDÍ will bring a “VMAs” celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary with a finale performance by DMC., Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Lil Wayne, LL COOL J and Nicki Minaj.
And presenters?
Big celebs are headed to New Jersey to present hardware to this year’s nominees, including Bebe Rexha, Charli D’Amelio, Coco Jones, Dixie D’Amelio, Emily Ratajkowski, French Montana, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Jared Leto, Madelyn Cline, Rita Ora, Sabrina Carpenter, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Anuel AA, Ashanti, Billy Porter, Chloe Bailey, Dove Cameron, Fat Joe, Halle Bailey, Nelly Furtado, Reneé Rapp, Saweetie, Shenseea, Thalia, Tiffany Haddish, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean.
Is there a host?
This year, MTV is steering away from a traditional host and will once again break boundaries at the VMAs by having having an “emcee” for the second consecutive year. As previously announced, Nicki Minaj will have the mic during the live telecast, as she’s set to introduce the biggest moments of the night.
What else do I need to know?
Sean “Diddy” Combs will be receiving the Global Icon Award, while Shakira will be awarded the Video Vanguard Award during the live telecast. Each artist is confirmed to perform their biggest hits on the VMAs stage as well.
