The show must go on, and it is – in person.
MTV will be returning to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on August 30 for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. This marks the first time the show has returned to the Barclays since their debut there in 2013, and the first in-person ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. On Thursday (July 30), they announced this year’s nominees and true to the times, they include new categories like “Best Music Video from Home” and “Best Quarantine Performance.”
DaniLeigh Denies Willingly Entering Into Entanglement With DaBaby
Both DaBaby and Megan Thee Stallion scored nominations in the coveted “Artist of the Year” category, while Doja Cat, Jack Harlow and Roddy Ricch are among the rappers nominated in the “Best New Artist” category. Other notable mentions include Future and Drake in multiple categories for their “Life Is Good” collab, Nicki Minaj scored a nod in the “Best Latin” category via her appearance on Karol G’s “Tusa” and Machine Gun Kelly landed in the “Best Alternative” category with his Travis Barker-assisted rock hit, “Bloody Valentine.”
Meanwhile, not everyone was thrilled with the announcement — namely Wale. The “MOVIN’ DIFFERENT” rapper said he “failed” after learning he wasn’t nominated while retweeting Billboard’s announcement of the big reveal.
Check out the nominations below. To vote through August 23, head over to MTV. The 2020 VMAs air live on on Sunday, August 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “everything i wanted”
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla”
Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift – “The Man”
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DaBaby
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Megan Thee Stallion
Post Malone
The Weeknd
SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “everything i wanted”
Doja Cat – “Say So”
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”
Post Malone – “Circles”
Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
BEST COLLABORATION
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U”
Black Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin – “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid – “Beautiful People”
Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me”
BEST NEW ARTIST
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Lewis Capaldi
Roddy Ricch
Tate McRae
YUNGBLUD
BEST HIP-HOP
DaBaby – “BOP”
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla”
Future ft. Drake – “Life Is Good”
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”
Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Travis Scott – “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM”
BEST LATIN
Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin – “China”
Bad Bunny – “Yo Perreo Sola”
Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul – “MAMACITA”
J Balvin – “Amarillo”
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa”
Maluma ft. J Balvin – “Qué Pena”
BEST R&B
Alicia Keys – “Underdog”
Chloe x Halle – “Do It”
H.E.R. ft. YG – “Slide”
Khalid ft. Summer Walker – “Eleven”
Lizzo – “Cuz I Love You”
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Anderson .Paak – “Lockdown”
Billie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell”
Demi Lovato – “I Love Me”
H.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Taylor Swift – “The Man”
BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME
5 Seconds of Summer – “Wildflower”
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U”
blink-182 – “Happy Days”
Drake – “Toosie Slide”
John Legend – “Bigger Love”
twenty one pilots – “Level of Concern”
BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE
Chloe & Halle – “Do It” from MTV’s Prom-athon
CNCO – Unplugged At Home
DJ D-Nice – Club MTV presents #DanceTogether
John Legend – #togetherathome Concert Series
Lady Gaga – “Smile” from One World: Together At Home
Post Malone – Nirvana Tribute
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BTS – “On” – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun
CNCO & Natti Natasha – “Honey Boo” – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
DaBaby – “BOP” – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Choreography by Richy Jackson
Normani – “Motivation” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Alex, I’ll take Pity win for Meg for 200
Where is Greselda? Greselda been working harder than everyone in a rap game and they deserve more
ask eminem. you kno when you on shady records the expectations are low
Wale can rap, but he boring
I personally think,Wale like Rapsody from last year, got screwed over as well as other artists as well as others. I hope we don’t have to wait til someone like Jermaine Dupri say something offensive for people to bring these two names up or worst case scenario, wait for them to die like Nipsey and Mac Miller to appreciate them.
Roddy Rich and DaBaby are on fire right now. Keep it up young fellas.
Wale’s a gifted rapper. It’s sad to see he didn’t make it.
Congrats to all the nominees.