Olivia Rodrigo Is Bringing 'GUTS' To The VMAs Stage

Summer is ending and school is starting up, which means one thing: the VMAs are around the corner.

MTV’s Video Music Awards returns for its 2023 ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Nicki Minaj will be returning as host (and performer) and the announced performers already suggest that it’ll be a stacked night to remember: Demi Lovato, K-pop megastars Stray Kids, our favorite hot Italian rockers Måneskin, Karol G, Olivia Rodrigo, and more are scheduled to hit the stage. Shakira will also grace the stage with a career-spanning medley performance as she takes home the night’s highest honor of the night: the 2023 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. The multi-hyphenate icon will be the first South American artist in the history of the VMAs to receive the award.

This year’s ceremony will also have a few changes from previous ones, namely, new votable categories including a “Best Afrobeats” category. This year’s list of nominations also breaks the record for the amount of first-time nominees up for awards in VMA history; Ice Spice, PinkPantheress, Peso Pluma, Kim Petras, GloRilla, and over 30 more artists will compete for their first-ever VMAs Moon Man.

For everything to expect in this year’s ceremony — including how to stream it online — read on below:

When are the 2023 VMAs?

This year’s ceremony takes place Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

How can I watch the 2023 VMAs?

The live broadcast kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, and will be available to watch live on MTV and stream via Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Philo and fuboTV, and Paramount+.

Who is hosting the 2023 VMAs?

Nicki Minaj is back to take on the dual role of host/emcee and performer this year. Minaj also hosted the ceremony in 2022 (and took home the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award).

Who’s performing at the 2023 VMAs?

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, the first round of performers for the VMAs was announced:

Demi Lovato, who will return for her first VMAs performance in six years. The pop star is up for two awards this year, “Best Pop” and “Video for Good,” and will perform from her new album REVAMPED, which features rock versions of her hit songs.

Stray Kids, who makes its debut on the VMAs stage. The K-pop group is up for one award in the “Best K-pop” category, and will perform its song “S-CLASS” from its latest record, 5-STAR.

Måneskin, who is up for an award in the “Best Rock” category. The Italian rockers will debut the live performance of their new single, “HONEY (ARE YOU COMING?),” out Sept. 1.

Karol G, who’s up for three awards this year including the big one, “Artist of the Year.” The Colombian singer will bring her massive hit “Bichota Season” to life on the stage for her first-ever VMAs performance.

A second round of performers were announced on Aug. 31 including:

Lil Wayne, who’s returning to the VMAs stage for the first time in over a decade. The hip hop icon will perform his forthcoming song, “Kat Food,” out 9/1, live for the first time. He’s also up for one VMA this year in the “Best Hip-Hop” category, an award he first won in 2008.

Anitta, who’s up for an award in the “Best Latin” category; the Brazilian singer is set to perform a medley of songs from her latest album Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story.

Doja Cat, who’s up for five awards this year including in top categories “Best Video of the Year” and “Artist of the Year.” There’s no info yet on what she will perform but we’re assuming it’ll be one of her two new singles, “Attention” or “Paint The Town Red.”

Kelsea Ballerini, who’s making her VMAs debut performance. The rising country star will give a “world premiere performance” from her 2023 EP Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good).

Tomorrow x Together, who’s set to debut a brand new single on the VMAs stage. The massive K-pop group will also make history as the first K-pop group to cross-genre for an international performance with Anitta. They’re also up for two awards: “Best K-pop” and “Push Performance of the Year.”

On Sept. 7, the VMAs announced additional performer Olivia Rodrigo, who will hit the stage for her first live performance after releasing her sophomore album GUTS. The Gen Z superstar is up for a whopping six awards this year including in the major “Video of the Year” category.

More performances from Fall Out Boy, Metro Boomin with Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee & NAV, Peso Pluma, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Minaj were announced on Sept. 9.

Who’s presenting at the 2023 VMAs?

Celebrities, nominated musicians, and influencers alike will be presenting the awards at the ceremony. They include: Bebe Rexha, Charli D'Amelio, Coco Jones, Dixie D’Amelio, Emily Ratajkowski, French Montana, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Jared Leto, Madelyn Cline, Rita Ora and Sabrina Carpenter.

Who’s receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award?

Each year the VMAs bestows one artist with the highest award of the night, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, honoring “outstanding contributions” and “profound impact” on music video and popular culture. This year that accolade goes to Shakira, who also becomes the first South American artist to receive the award in VMAs history.

“Shakira is a true global force who continues to inspire & influence the masses with her unique, musical prowess,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events and more at Paramount and Paramount+, in a press statement. “She's a trailblazer for women around the world & one of the first artists to lead the globalization of Latin music. Her massive impact across the musical landscape will be long lasting as she continues to create and entertain at the highest level.”

The multi-hyphenate superstar already has four VMAs under her belt and is up for four more this year: “Best Collaboration,” two nominations in the “Best Latin” category, and the much-coveted “Artist of the Year.”

As is expected of all Video Vanguard recipients, the “Hips Don’t Lie” icon will accept her award with a career-spanning medley performance, this year sponsored by Toyota.

Who’s nominated for a 2023 VMA?

A record number of first-time nominees — 35! — are up for awards this year including Ice Spice, GloRilla, Kim Petras, Metro Boomin, Peso Pluma, PinkPantheress, Rema, and Reneé Rapp.

In addition to the newcomers, Taylor Swift dominates the list of nominees with eight nods, SZA and Doja Cat, each with six, and Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sam Smith, all with five. See everyone who’s nominated here.