Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards will be like none since the ceremony launched in 1984.
This year, rather than being held at a single venue in front of an audience, the show will feature outdoor performances across New York. While we’ll miss the glitz of music stars walking the red carpet and the chance of an on-stage faux pas (we’re still celebrating John Travolta accidentally handing a 2019 VMA award to Taylor Swift’s drag queen double), there’s plenty to look forward to from the 2020 awards.
Ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, here are some things you need to know:
When are the VMAs?
The awards, among the first to take place live since the coronavirus put a halt on large gatherings, will take place Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Keke Palmer hosts. A 90-minute pre-show will be shown on MTV beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. Chloe x Halle, Jack Harlow, Tate McRae, Lewis Capaldi and Machine Gun Kelly are among the pre-show performers.
A statement by MTV and the Barclays Center promised the show would “pay homage to the incredible resiliency of New York” and that the ceremony would return to the venue in 2021.
How can I watch?
The ceremony will air on 11 Viacom-owned cable networks, including MTV (of course), MTV2, BET, TV Land, Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, Spike, Pop, Logo and CMT.
For the first time, the event will be broadcast on the CW Network, making it accessible to folks without cable TV.
Who are the nominees?
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga tied for the most nominations, each scoring nine nods. Seven of those came from their dance-floor track “Rain On Me,” appearing in such categories as video of the year, best collaboration and best pop.
Grammy darling Billie Eilish and chart-topper The Weeknd are next up, with six shots at taking home a “Moon Person” statue. Eilish’s “everything i wanted” is up for video of the year and song of the year. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” is in the running for video of the year and best R&B. He’s also up for artist of the year, along with DaBaby, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Megan Thee Stallion and Post Malone.
Special coronavirus categories have been added this year, as well, including best quarantine song and best performance from home.
Who is performing?
Miley Cyrus will take the stage to perform her new single, “Midnight Sky,” for the first time worldwide. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande will return to the show after being absent for several years. K-pop group BTS will make the worldwide live debut performance of “Dynamite”, their first song performed fully in English.
The Weeknd, CNCO, Doja Cat, Maluma, Black Eyed Peas and “Song of Summer” front-runner DaBaby are scheduled to perform.
Grammy-winning rapper Roddy Ricch and Colombian superstar J Balvin canceled their VMA performances.
“My team and I did everything in our power to make this work, due to COVID compliance issues at the last minute we had to call off the performance,” Ricch said on Instagram Live the weekend prior to the show.
Balvin had previously revealed he had contracted COVID-19. While he accepted an award at Premios Juventud 2020, he told viewers: “This is not a joke … It’s very dangerous. Take a lot of care of yourselves.”
What COVID-19 precautions are being taken?
New York relaxed the isolation requirements for VMA performers who traveled to the state for the show. In a statement, the New York State Department of Health said MTV had requested and received permission for the artists to perform in New York despite coming from states on the quarantine list.
According to the agency, the VMA performers will be required to follow similar restrictions as Major League Baseball players and other professional athletes, who have to stay in their hotel or living accommodations when not doing work related their their job.
