2021 MTV Video Music Awards | September 12th
The MTV Video Music Awards return from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for what will be one of the first awards shows with a live audience since New York City reopened earlier this summer. The 2021 “VMAs” will be hosted by Doja Cat and will air live on MTV on Sunday, September 12 at 8 pm ET and will simulcast across CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1 and the CW Network. “The 2021 show will feature epic performances from the biggest names in music and bring fans together from across the globe to celebrate the return of live entertainment,” MTV stated in a press release earlier in June.
The Awards ceremony being on the day after the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York City, MTV is planning a week of activities with the nonprofit organization 9/11 Day to encourage a national day of charitable service every year on the anniversary of September 11th. Set to perform at this year’s VMAs are Doja Cat, Camila Cabello, Lil Nas X, Lorde, Foo Fighters, Machine Gun Kelly, Olivia Rodrigo, Shawn Mendes, Twenty One Pilots, and Chlöe Bailey. Justin Bieber received the most nominations with seven in 2021, followed by Megan Thee Stallion with six, and Billie Eilish, BTS, Doja Cat, Drake, Giveon, Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo trailing closely behind with five nominations each. Please view below for a full list of the MTV Video Music Award nominees for 2021.
2021 MTV Video Music Awards - List of Nominees
Video of the Year
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake, “POPSTAR” (Starring Justin Bieber)
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears”
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Justin Bieber
Megan Thee Stallion
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, “Leave The Door Open”
BTS, “Dynamite”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
Best New Artist
24kGoldn
Giveon
The Kid LAROI
Olivia Rodrigo
Polo G
Saweetie
Push Performance of the Year
September 2020: Wallows, “Are You Bored Yet?”
October 2020: Ashnikko, “Daisy”
November 2020: SAINt JHN, “Gorgeous”
December 2020: 24kGoldn, “Coco”
January 2021: JC Stewart, “Break My Heart”
February 2021: Latto, “Sex Lies”
March 2021: Madison Beer, “Selfish”
April 2021: The Kid LAROI, “WITHOUT YOU”
May 2021: Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
June 2021: girl in red, “Serotonin”
July 2021: Fousheé, “my slime”
August 2021: jxdn, “Think About Me”
Best Collaboration
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Drake ft. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, “Peaches”
Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa, “Prisoner”
Best Pop
Ariana Grande, “positions”
Billie Eilish, “Therefore I Am”
BTS, “Butter”
Harry Styles, “Treat People With Kindness”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, “Peaches”
Olivia Rodrigo, “good 4 u”
Shawn Mendes, “Wonder”
Taylor Swift, “willow”
Best Hip-Hop
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Drake ft. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Baby ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “On Me (remix)”
Moneybagg Yo, “Said Sum”
Polo G, “RAPSTAR”
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A., “FRANCHISE”
Best Rock
Evanescence, “Use My Voice”
Foo Fighters, “Shame Shame”
John Mayer, “Last Train Home”
The Killers, “My Own Soul’s Warning”
Kings Of Leon, “The Bandit”
Lenny Kravitz, “Raise Vibration”
Best Alternative
Bleachers, “Stop Making This Hurt”
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
Imagine Dragons, “Follow You”
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear, “my ex’s best friend”
twenty one pilots, “Shy Away”
WILLOW ft. Travis Barker, “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l”
Best Latin
Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
Billie Eilish & ROSALÍA, “Lo Vas A Olvidar”
Black Eyed Peas and Shakira, “GIRL LIKE ME”
J. Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy, “UN DIA (ONE DAY)”
Karol G, “Bichota”
Maluma, “Hawái”
Best R&B
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid, “BROWN SKIN GIRL”
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, “Leave The Door Open”
Chris Brown and Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Giveon, “HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY”
H.E.R. ft. Chris Brown, “Come Through”
SZA, “Good Days”
Best K-Pop
(G)I-DLE, “DUMDi DUMDi”
BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez, “Ice Cream”
BTS, “Butter”
SEVENTEEN, “Ready to love”
TWICE, “Alcohol-Free”
Video for Good
Billie Eilish, “Your Power”
Demi Lovato, “Dancing With The Devil”
H.E.R., “Fight For You”
Kane Brown, “Worldwide Beautiful”
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Pharrell Williams ft. JAY-Z, “Entrepreneur”
Best Direction
Billie Eilish, “Your Power,” directed by Billie Eilish
DJ Khaled ft. Drake, “POPSTAR” (Starring Justin Bieber), directed by Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” directed by Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino
Taylor Swift, “willow,” directed by Taylor Swift
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A, “Franchise,” directed by Travis Scott
Tyler, The Creator, “LUMBERJACK,” directed by Wolf Haley
Best Cinematography
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid, “BROWN SKIN GIRL,” cinematography by Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, MOHAMMAED ATTA AHMED, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
Billie Eilish, “Therefore I Am,” cinematography by Rob Witt
Foo Fighters, “Shame Shame,” cinematography by Santiago Gonzalez
Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper, “Holy,” cinematography by Elias Talbot
Lady Gaga, “911,” cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth
Lorde, “Solar Power,” cinematography by Andrew Stroud
Best Art Direction
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer, “ALREADY,” art direction by Susan Linns, Gerard Santos
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits,” art direction by Alison Dominitz
Lady Gaga, “911,” art direction by Tom Foden, Peter Andrus
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” art direction by John Richoux
Saweetie ft. Doja Cat, “Best Friend,” art direction by Art Haynes
Taylor Swift, “willow,” art direction by Ethan Tobman, Regina Fernandez
Best Visual Effects
Bella Poarch, “Build A Bitch,” visual effects by Andrew Donoho, Denhov Visuals, Denis Strahhov, Rein Jakobson, Vahur Kuusk, Tatjana Pavlik, Yekaterina Vetrova
Coldplay, “Higher Power,” visual effects by Mathematic
Doja Cat & The Weeknd, “You Right,” visual effects by La Pac, Anthony Lestremau, Julien Missaire, Petr Shkolniy, Alexi Bailla, Micha Sher, Antoine Hache, Mikros MPC, Nicolas Huget, Guillaume Ho Tsong Fang, Benjamin Lenfant, Stephane Pivron, MPC Bangalore, Chanakya Chander, Raju Ganesh, David Rouxel
Glass Animals, “Tangerine,” visual effects by Ronan Fourreau
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” visual effects by Mathematic
P!NK, “All I Know So Far,” visual effects by Dave Meyers, Freenjoy Inc
Best Choreography
Ariana Grande, “34+35,” choreography by Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson
BTS, “Butter,” choreography by SON SUNG DEUK With BHM PERFORMANCE DIRECTING TEAM
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits,” choreography by Natricia Bernard
Foo Fighters, “Shame Shame,” choreography by Nina McNeely
Harry Styles, “Treat People With Kindness,” choreography by Paul Roberts
Marshmello & Halsey, “Be Kind,” choreography by Dani Vitale
Best Editing
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic,”Leave The Door Open,” editing by Troy Charbonnet
BTS, “Butter,” editing by Yong Seok Choi from Lumpens
Drake, “What’s Next,” editing by Noah Kendal
Harry Styles, “Treat People With Kindness,” editing by Claudia Wass
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, “Peaches,” editing by Mark Mayr, Vinnie Hobbs
Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa, “Prisoner”