How to watch and everything to know

It’s been a big year for music, between Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, and allegations against Lizzo. 

So, even if the VMAs have become less relevant in the days since Madonna kissed Britney Spears and Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift, the 2023 VMAs could be dramatic. 

The show will air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday (Sept. 12) at 8 p.m. 

Here’s everything you need to know about it, including who’s performing, who is nominated, and how to watch.  

There will be a 90-minute pre-show hosted by Saweetie, airing live from 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2, CMT and Logo.

Shakira and Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, or Diddy, 53, will both perform on the show, for the first time in over a decade (Diddy last performed in 2005). Shakira, 46, is slated to receive the Video Vanguard Award, while Diddy will receive the Global Icon Award. 

Diddy is the third artist to be presented with the Global Icon Award, after the Foo Fighters (in 2021) and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (in 2022). 

Sharkira will be the first South American artist to be presented with the Video Vanguard Award – past winners include Pink, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott. 

Nicki Minaj will emcee the show — and also perform.

Presenters will include Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Emily Ratajkowski, Rita Ora, Jared Leto and Sabrina Carpenter. 

So far, Taylor Swift is not officially confirmed to perform or attend the 2023 VMAs, but she’s got an eye-popping 11 nominations. 

Other nominated artists this year include SZA, BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Petras and Sam Smith, Beyoncé, Drake, and Ice Spice, among others. 

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion – fresh off the Tory Lanez’s sentencing for shooting her – will perform their new single, “Bongos.” 

Lil Wayne, Fall Out Boy and Demi Lovato will also perform. 

Olivia Rodrigo, 20, will hit the stage too, fresh from her newly released album, “Guts.”

There will be some K-pop artists, too, including Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

There will also be a segment saluting a 50th anniversary to hip-hop, featuring LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Darryl “DMC” Daniels and Doug E. Fresh.

As for the Album of the Year race? The competition will be between Beyoncé (“Renaissance”), Drake and 21 Savage (“Her Loss”), Metro Boomin (“Heroes & Villains”), Miley Cyrus (“Endless Summer Vacation”), SZA (“SOS”) and Taylor Swift (“Midnights”). 

The 2023 VMAs will air on MTV on Tuesday. Sept 12 (8 p.m.), simulcast on CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, BET, BET Her, MTV2, VH1, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, and the ceremony will stream live on Paramount+.