The MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday night and for the first time only women are nominated in the show’s Female Artist of the Year category. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Karol G and Shakira are contenders for the evening’s award.
On Tuesday morning, the VMAs announced its final round of presenters, which includes 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.
The VMAs, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – just outside New York City – will be hosted by Minaj. Last year she performed alongside Lil Wayne and Jack Harlow; This year she is alone.
The show will also celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with a star-studded, cross-generational closing performance: DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Cool J and Minaj will join forces.
The VMAs begin Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT and will air on MTV and be simulcast on BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TVLand and VH1. The show also airs in Spanish on UniMás.
Swift increased her nomination count to 11 – including seven for her “Anti-Hero” music video – after MTV announced four more social categories earlier this month. She is followed by SZA with eight. Swift currently has 14 VMAs to her name, trailing Beyoncé with 28 (including two with Destiny’s Child), Madonna with 20 awards and Lady Gaga with 19 awards.
This year there are a record number of first-time nominees at 35: including Kim Petras with five nominations, Metro Boomin’ with four and Rema with three. Also nominated for the first time are Aespa, Burna Boy, Davido, Eslabon Armado, FIFTY FIFTY, PinkPantheress, Saucy Santana, Stephen Sanchez and Toosii.
Shakira will receive the Video Vanguard Award and is also expected to perform. Previous honorees include Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.
Diddy will receive the Global Icon Award and perform at the VMAs for the first time since 2005. He will be the third honoree, following the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2022 and the Foo Fighters in 2021.
Other scheduled artists include Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (performing their new collaboration “Bongos”), Anitta, Demi Lovato, Fall Out Boy, Peso Pluma, Doja Cat, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Måneskin, Olivia Rodrigo, Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together and more.