This Sunday, the 32nd Annual MTV Video Music Awards will be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, keeping up with the long tradition of keeping censors of their toes. Superstar Miley Cyrus announced her hosting duties via Instagram, as the kids do these days, and promises something “psychedelic.” While we’ve already predicted a few of the things our host may say or do, she’s already got the Parents Television Council up in arms.
As far as the awards go, digital music savior Taylor Swift leads with a total of 10 nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Collaboration, Female Video of the Year, and Best Pop Video. Although, if you count Kendrick Lamar’s four nominations for his video “Alright,” then tally up the nine nominations for his work with both Taylor Swift and Flying Lotus, he ends up the front-runner with a total of 13. Kanye West is also set to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, the highest honor the VMAs can bestow.
Here’s a rundown of everything else you should know that’s set to go down this Sunday. The awards are on MTV at 9 p.m. EST.
The performers
- Nicki Minaj (whose wax statue at Madame Tussauds is also making news)
- Pharrell Williams
- Justin Bieber (whose new single is better than anyone will likely admit)
- The Weeknd
- Tori Kelly
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (no word on how many rap legends will show up this time)
- Twenty One Pilots & A$AP Rocky
- Demi Lovato (currently denying one of the strangest celebrity rumors in quite a while)
The presenters
- Taylor Swift (taking a break from her multiple, genre-crossing, and outright endearing collaborations of late)
- Ne-Yo
- John Legend (who’s wedding repertoire now includes Kim and Kanye and these adorable two bulldogs)
- Bruno Mars
- Ariana Grande (hopefully someone’s there to keep an eye on any donuts backstage)
- Mark Ronson
- Britney Spears (being a VMAs presenter may not be her dream job, but it probably pays the bills)
The Awards
(You can find our predictions here.)
Video of the Year
Beyonce – “7/11”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Uptown Funk”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Best Male Video
Nick Jonas – “Chains”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Uptown Funk”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
The Weeknd – “Earned It”
Best Female Video
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Ellie Goulding – “Love Me like You Do”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Sia – “Elastic Heart”
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
Best Pop Video
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Maroon 5 – “Sugar”
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Uptown Funk”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space”
Best Rock Video
Arctic Monkeys – “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”
Fall Out Boy – “Uma Thurman”
Florence + the Machine – “Ship to Wreck”
Hozier – “Take Me to Church”
Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance”
Best Hip-Hop Video
Big Sean (featuring E-40) – “I Don’t F*ck with You”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Wiz Khalifa (featuring Charlie Puth) – “See You Again”
Artist to Watch
James Bay – “Hold Back the River”
George Ezra – “Budapest”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
FKA twigs – “Pendulum”
Vance Joy – “Riptide”
Best Collaboration
Ariana Grande and The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder”
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang”
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Uptown Funk”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Wiz Khalifa (featuring Charlie Puth) – “See You Again”
Best Direction
Childish Gambino – “Sober”
Hozier – “Take Me to Church”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Uptown Funk”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Best Choreography
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Chet Faker – “Gold”
Flying Lotus (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Never Catch Me”
OK Go – “I Won’t Let You Down”
Ed Sheeran – “Don’t”
Best Visual Effects
Childish Gambino – “Telegraph Ave.”
FKA twigs – “Two Weeks”
Skrillex and Diplo (featuring Justin Bieber) – “Where Are U Now”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Tyler, The Creator – “F*cking Young/Death Camp”
Best Art Direction
The Chemical Brothers – “Go”
Skrillex and Diplo (featuring Justin Bieber) – “Where Are U Now”
Snoop Dogg – “So Many Pros”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Jack White – “Would You Fight for My Love?”
Best Editing
A$AP Rocky – “L$D”
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Ed Sheeran – “Don’t”
Skrillex and Diplo (featuring Justin Bieber) – “Where Are U Now”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Best Cinematography
Alt-J – “Left Hand Free”
FKA twigs – “Two Weeks”
Flying Lotus (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Never Catch Me”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – “Bad Blood”
Best Video with a Social Message
Big Sean (featuring Kanye West and John Legend) – “One Man Can Change the World”
Colbie Caillat – “Try”
Jennifer Hudson – “I Still Love You”
Rihanna – “American Oxygen”
Wale – “The White Shoes”
Song of the Summer
5 Seconds of Summer – “She’s Kinda Hot”
Fetty Wap – “My Way”
Fifth Harmony (featuring Kid Ink) – “Worth it”
Selena Gomez (featuring ASAP Rocky) – “Good for You”
David Guetta (featuring Nicki Minaj) – “Hey, Mama”
Demi Lovato – “Cool for the Summer”
Major Lazer – “Lean On”
OMI – “Cheerleader”
Silento – “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”
Skrillex and Diplo (featuring Justin Bieber) – “Where Are U Now”
Taylor Swift – “Bad Blood”
The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”
