VMAs: What you need to know
After tame effort last year, can MTV awards turn up the volume?
Onstage feuds, wardrobe malfunctions, wild performances — MTV’s Video Music Awards has a reputation for mischief.
But after a relatively tame (read: boring) 2016 awards, can the 2017 VMAs Sunday night in Los Angeles recapture the magic?
Here’s everything viewers need to know:
WHAT TIME ARE THE VMAS?
The VMAs ceremony airs Sunday at 8 ET on MTV. The pre-show begins at 7.
HOW CAN I WATCH?
Not watching the VMAs on TV? The show also will air on MTV’s live TV site, which requires a cable login for access. The MTV app is also free for viewers with a cable login and will be streaming behind-the-scenes footage of the show, available on iTunes/Apple TV, Google Play, Roku, Xbox One, Amazon, Chromecast and more.
WHO IS HOSTING?
Not only is Katy Perry hosting this year’s VMAs, she’s also performing her Witness single Chained to the Rhythm and, with five nominations, could take home a few Moonman trophies as well.
WILL TAYLOR SWIFT BE AT THE SHOW?
Swift resurfaced this week to announce her highly anticipated sixth album, Reputation, and its release date, Nov. 10, teasing a new single arriving Thursday night.
While there’s no official word on whether Swift will make a surprise VMAs appearance, a report in US Weekly indicates the star will attend the awards.
A reunion between Swift and her once-enemy Perry would be a stunt for the ages. Lorde, who’s up for artist of the year Sunday night, will do double duty as a performer.
WHO ARE THE NOMINEES?
Kendrick Lamar tops the list of VMA nominations with eight, including artist of the year and video of the year for No. 1 single Humble.
Humble also is nominated for The Weeknd also will take the stage — and he’s sitting pretty with five nominations.
best hip-hop video, cinematography, direction, art direction, visual effects and choreography.
Tied for second-most nominations are The Weeknd and Katy Perry with five each. Similar to the non-gendered categories of the MTV Movie and TV Awards in May, this year’s VMAs will no longer award best male and female video, instead combining the two fields into the general “artist of the year.”
The VMAs also added a “best fight against the system” category, intended to honor videos that inspire viewers to fight injustice.
WHO IS PERFORMING?
The show will include performances from Kendrick Lamar, Fifth Harmony, Shawn Mendes, Miley Cyrus, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Lorde, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd, with Khalid, Bleachers, and Cardi B set to perform at the pre-show.
WHO IS THIS YEAR’S VIDEO VANGUARD RECIPIENT?
Pink will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and she’s also set to perform. The singer recently announced her seventh album, Beautiful Trauma, out Oct. 13.