The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) was an unforgettable night, packed with thrilling performances, historic wins, and jaw-dropping moments. Held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, this year’s show was hosted by none other than Megan Thee Stallion, who brought her signature energy and charisma to the event. The night saw some of the biggest names in the music industry, from Taylor Swift to LL Cool J, grace the stage and celebrate the best in music videos.
Taylor Swift emerged as the night’s undisputed queen, taking home an impressive seven moonmen out of her 12 nominations, including the prestigious Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer awards. With these wins, Swift made VMAs history, surpassing Beyoncé’s record for the most solo VMA victories. Swift’s total now stands at 30 VMAs, edging out Beyoncé’s 26 wins as a solo artist (though Beyoncé has additional wins as part of Destiny’s Child and with Jay-Z as the Carters).
Swift also became the first artist ever to win Video of the Year five times, a milestone that further cements her legacy in music history.
Post Malone wasn’t far behind, nabbing five awards for his feature on Swift’s viral hit “Fortnight.” Other standout winners of the night included Eminem, Tyla, and Megan Thee Stallion, each securing two moonmen. Eminem took home awards for Best Hip-Hop and Best Visual Effects for his track “Houdini,” while Megan Thee Stallion won Best Art Direction for her visually stunning “BOA” and Best Trending Video for “Mamushi.” Tyla was named Best New Artist and also scored Best Afrobeats for her song “Water,” a well-deserved recognition of her rising stardom.
Other notable winners of the night, with one moonman each, included Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Benson Boone, SZA, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, LISA, and Seventeen. However, Beyoncé’s absence from the winner’s circle sparked conversations, as her critically acclaimed album Cowboy Carter had recently been shut out of CMA Award nominations.
The night kicked off with a powerful performance by Eminem, who brought his iconic style to the stage with a self-referential mashup of “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me.” His performance was a nod to his memorable 2000 VMAs appearance, complete with a battalion of lookalikes joining him on stage. Katy Perry followed with an electrifying performance, delivering a medley of her biggest hits and newer tracks as part of her Video Vanguard Award celebration.
One of the most visually stunning performances of the night came from Sabrina Carpenter. The pop star wowed the crowd with an outer space-themed performance, floating down from the rafters on a swing while singing her hit “Please, Please, Please.” She followed up with “Taste” and “Espresso,” with an ensemble of dancers dressed as astronauts performing in perfect unison, adding to the intergalactic vibe.
Chappell Roan took the audience back to medieval times with her performance of “Good Luck Babe,” donning armor and wielding a crossbow. Set against a backdrop of a fiery castle, Roan led a troupe of dancers through a performance that was as dramatic as it was unique. The medieval imagery paired with her energetic choreography made for one of the most unforgettable moments of the night.
The evening was filled with more epic collaborations, including Fat Joe and DJ Khaled joining Anitta to premiere their new track “Paradise.” After that, Anitta took the stage again, this time alongside Tiago PZK, for a duet of “Alegría,” ending with her hit “Savage Funk.” Shawn Mendes debuted his highly anticipated new song “Nobody Knows,” while Halsey premiered her rock-infused track “Ego,” bringing even more excitement to the already star-studded event.
The performances continued with LISA, Megan Thee Stallion, Karol G, Lenny Kravitz, GloRilla, LL Cool J, and Benson Boone lighting up the stage. Interstitial performances by Teddy Swims and Jessie Murph added even more variety to the lineup, keeping the energy high throughout the night.
The 2024 MTV VMAs were a night to remember, full of historic wins, unforgettable performances, and powerful moments. With Taylor Swift breaking records, artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan delivering jaw-dropping performances, and the most talented musicians in the world coming together for one unforgettable night, the VMAs once again proved why they are one of the biggest nights in music.
Check out the winners:
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 feat. Post Malone — Fortnight
Best New Artist
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tyla
Song of Summer
Ariana Grande — we can’t be friends (wait for your love)
Benson Boone — Beautiful Things
Billie Eilish — BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Chappell Roan — Good Luck, Babe!
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish — Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Eminem — Houdini
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar — Like That
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion — Wanna Be
Hozier — Too Sweet
Kendrick Lamar — Not Like Us
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen — I Had Some Help
Sabrina Carpenter — Please Please Please
Shaboozey — A Bar Song (Tipsy)
SZA — Saturn
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone — Fortnight
Tommy Richman — MILLION DOLLAR BABY
VMAs Most Iconic Performance
Beyonce — Love On Top
Eminem — The Real Slim Shady / The Way I Am
Katy Perry — Roar
Lady Gaga — Paparazzi
Madonna — Like A Virgin
Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott — Like A Virgin / Hollywood
Taylor Swift — You Belong With Me
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bad Bunny
Eminem
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Beyonce — TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Jack Harlow — Lovin On Me
Kendrick Lamar — Not Like Us
Sabrina Carpenter — Espresso
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone — Fortnight
Teddy Swims — Lose Control
Performance of the Year
Kaliii — Area Codes
GloRilla — Lick or Sum
Benson Boone — In The Stars
Coco Jones — ICU
Victoria Monet — On My Mama
Jessie Murph — Wild Ones
Teddy Swims — Lose Control
Chappell Roan — Red Wine Supernova
Flyana Boss — yeaaa
Laufey — Goddess
LE SSERAFIM — Easy
The Warning — Automatic Sun
Best Group
*NSYNC
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
NCT DREAM
NewJeans
SEVENTEEN
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Twenty One Pilots
Best Collaboration
Drake feat. Sexxy Red & SZA — Rich Baby Daddy
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion — Wanna Be
Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll — Wild Ones
Jung Kook feat. Latto — Seven
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen — I Had Some Help
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone — Fortnight
Best Pop
Camila Cabello
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Best Hip-Hop
Drake feat. Sexxy Red & SZA — Rich Baby Daddy
Eminem — Houdini
GloRilla — Yeah Glo!
Gunner — fukumean
Megan Thee Stallion — BOA
Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti — FE!N
Best R&B
Alicia Keys — Lifeline
Muni Long — Made For Me
SZA — Snooze
Tyla — Water
USHER, Summer Walker, 21 Savage — Good Good
Victoria Monet — On My Mama
Best Alternative
Benson Boone — Beautiful Things
Bleachers — Tiny Moves
Hozier — Too Sweet
Imagine Dragons — Eyes Closed
Linkin Park — Friendly Fire
Teddy Swims — Lose Control (Live)
Best Rock
Bon Jovi — Legendary
Coldplay — feelslikeimfallinginlove
Green Day — Dilemma
Kings of Leon — Mustang
Lenny Kravitz — Human
U2 — Atomic City
Best Latin
Anitta — Mil Veces
Bad Bunny — MONACO
Karol G — MI EX TENIA RAZON
Myke Towers — LALA
Peso Pluma & Anitta — BELLAKEO
Rauw Alejandro — Touching The Sky
Shakira & Cardi B — Punteria
Best K-Pop
Jung Kook feat. Latto — Seven
Lisa — Rockstar
NCT DREAM — Smoothie
NewJeans — Super Shy
Stray Kids — LALALALA
TOMORROW X TOGETHER — Deja Vu
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr feat. Giveon — Last Heartbreak Song
Burna Boy — City Boys
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay — Sensational
Tems — Love Me JeJe
Tyla — Water
USHER, Pheelz — Ruin
Video for Good
Alexander Stewart — if you only knew
Billie Eilish — What Was I Made For?
Coldplay — feelslikeimfallinginlove
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll — Best For Me
RAYE — Genesis.
Tyler Childers — In Your Love
Best Trending Video
Beyonce — TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti — I LUV IT
Chappell Roan — Hot To Go!
Charli XCX — Apple
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba — Mamushi
Tinashe — Nasty
Best Direction
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) — Ariana Grande
Tiny Moves — Bleachers
Houdini — Eminem
BOA — Megan Thee Stallion
Please Please Please — Sabrina Carpenter
Fortnight — Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
Best Cinematography
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) — Ariana Grande
Von dutch — Charli XCX
Illusion — Dua Lipa
Obsessed — Olivia Rodrigo
Touching The Sky — Rauw Alejandro
Fortnight — Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
Best Visual Effects
the boy is mine — Ariana Grande
Houdini — Eminem
Selfish — Justin Timberlake
BOA — Megan Thee Stallion
get him back! — Olivia Rodrigo
Fortnight — Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
Best Choreography
Tiny Moves — Bleachers
Houdini — Dua Lipa
Rockstar — LISA
Touching The Sky — Rauw Alejandro
greedy — Tate McRae
Rush — Troye Sivan
Best Art Direction
360 — Charli XCX
Rockstar — LISA
BOA — Megan Thee Stallion
bad idea right? — Olivia Rodrigo
Please Please Please — Sabrina Carpenter
Fortnight — Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
Best Editing
Mil Veces — Anitta
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) — Ariana Grande
Houdini — Eminem
Rockstar — LISA
Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
Fortnight — Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
