Lil Nas X won the night’s big award, Video of the Year, for his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” at Sunday’s 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, which celebrated their 40th anniversary with a performance-loaded broadcast at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Newcomer Olivia Rodrigo won three Moon Men during the ceremony — for Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Push Performance of the Year. Justin Bieber was also a multiple winner, scoring Artist of the Year and Best Pop Video for “Peaches” along with Daniel Caesar and Giveon. Lil Nas X’s “Montero” also won for Best Director and Visual Effects.
Bieber came in with a leading seven nominations. Megan Thee Stallion came in with the second-most noms, six, but went home empty-handed despite being in the mix for her and Cardi B‘s video “Wap.”
The nod to the past of the VMAs included appearances by Madonna and Cyndi Lauper at the top of the show, as well as by original Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth to present the Video of the Year winner. The first video played on MTV, the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” played over the closing credits.
Some of the hottest 2021 VMAs performances
Launch the gallery above for more photos from the 2021 VMAs red carpet and show.
The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards Winners List
“VIDEO OF THE YEAR”
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Def Jam
SONG OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
Geffen Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Olivia Rodrigo
Geffen Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
BEST POP
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches”
Def Jam
BEST HIP-HOP
Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A. – “Franchise”
Cactus Jack / Epic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear – “my ex’s best friend”
Bad Boy / Interscope Records
BEST K-POP
BTS – “Butter”
BIGHIT MUSIC
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Billie Eilish – “Your Power”
Darkroom / Interscope Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Olivia Rodrigo
May 2021: “drivers license”
BEST ROCK
John Mayer – “Last Train Home”
Columbia Records
BEST LATIN
Billie Eilish & ROSALÍA – “Lo Vas A Olvidar”
Darkroom / Interscope Records
BEST R&B
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records
BEST DIRECTION
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness”
Columbia Records – Choreography by: Paul Roberts
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid – “BROWN SKIN GIRL”
Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, MOHAMMAED ATTA AHMED, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
BEST ART DIRECTION
Saweetie ft. Doja Cat – “Best Friend”
Warner Records – Art Direction by: Alec Contestabile
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records – Editing by: Troy Charbonnet
GROUP OF THE YEAR: BTS
SONG OF THE SUMMER: BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Monsta X – “Gambler” – Starship Entertainment
