Megan Thee Stallion hosts the music festival, featuring performances by Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Benson Boone

The MTV VMAs know how to throw a party and create a pop culture moment for the whole world to see.

Since its premiere in 1984, the awards show has been the scene of some of the most memorable moments in pop culture history.

In 1999, a then 17-year-old Britney Spears made her VMAs debut with a performance of “…Baby One More Time.” Just a few years later, the pop star caused a stir in the tabloids when she and Madonna kissed onstage during their 2003 performance. Kanye West famously interrupted Taylor Swift as she accepted the award for Best Female Video at the 2009 VMAs, sparking a decades-long feud. Beyoncé’s onstage pregnancy announcement, which concluded her performance of “Love on Top” at the 2011 show, broke the internet, setting the record for the most mentions of X per second.

This year will be no different.

The 2024 MTV VMAs will air live from UBS Arena in New York City and celebrate a year of visual spectacles from music’s biggest stars, including Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish and more.

Winners receive the coveted “Moon Person” (formerly “Moonman”) trophy, which depicts an astronaut planting a flag with the MTV logo on the moon. The silver statue has since become a symbol of pop culture excellence.

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s VMAs.

⏰When is the show?

• The MTV Video Music Awards will air live from UBS Arena in New York City on September 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

• The show airs live on MTV and is available to stream across all of MTV’s global channels, including BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1 and Univision.

• MTV and TelevisaUnivision are teaming up for the second year in a row to air a live simulcast of the VMAs. An encore presentation of the awards show will air on UNIMÁS at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.

🎤 Who is the host?

• Megan Thee Stallion is pulling double duty. The “Houston Hottie” is hosting the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time and also performing.

• The rapper received seven nominations this year, including for Best Collaboration and Best Hip Hop.

🎵 Who’s performing?

• Eminem opens the show.

• Anitta, Benson Boone, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Karol G, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Rauw Alejandro, Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes have all been announced as performers.

🏆 Who is the recipient of the Video Vanguard Award?

• Katy Perry receives the Video Vanguard Award from MTV.

• The five-time VMA winner, whose seventh studio album, 143, will debut on September 20 and will perform a medley of her biggest hits from her career.

• Previous winners of the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award include Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna.

🎹 Who are the nominees to watch in the top categories?

Taylor Swift dominates with 12 nominations, including Artist of the Year and Best Pop, followed by Post Malone with 11 and Eminem with eight. Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Megan Thee Stallion and SZA follow with seven each.

Here are some categories to look out for:

• Video of the year: Ariana Grande — “We Can’t Be Friends (Waiting For Your Love)”; Billie Eilish — “Lunch”; Doja Cat — “Paint the Town Red”; Eminem — “Houdini”; SZA — “Snooze”; Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone — “Fortnight”

• Artist of the year: Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift

• Song of the year: Beyoncé — “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Jack Harlow — “Lovin On Me,” Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us,” Sabrina Carpenter — “Espresso,” Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight,” Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”

• Best New Artist: Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Tyla

• Best cooperation: Drake ft. Sexyy Red and SZA — “Rich Baby Daddy,” GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion — “Wanna Be,” Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll — “Wild Ones,” Jung Kook ft. Latto — “Seven,” Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen — “I Had Some Help,” Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”

⭐ Any notable VMA firsts?

• Taylor Swift could break her own record and become the only artist ever to win Video of the Year three times in a row and five times in total.

• Sabrina Carpenter, Morgan Wallen, Tyla and Teddy Swims are among the 29 nominees for the inaugural VMAs.

• “Good Luck, Babe!” singer Chappell Roan makes her VMAs debut. Roan was a first-time nominee, earning nominations for Best New Artist and PUSH: Performance of the Year for “Red Wine Supernova.”

• Carpenter will perform on the main stage at the VMAs for the first time in her career.

• Gracie Abrams, whose new album The secret of us features a duet with Taylor Swift and earned her her first-ever VMA nomination for Best New Artist.