MTV Video Music Awards 2021: Who Is Nominated and How to Watch

The MTV Video Music Awards will air Sunday, Sept. 12 at 8 PM. Find out which artists are nominated for an award this year and how you can stream the 2021 VMAs. 

2021 VMA Categories

Music fans are excited to hear the results of the 2021 Video Music Awards. This year, the categories include Best New Artist, Group of the Year, Song of Summer, Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Push Performance of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Hip-Hop, Best R&B, Best K-Pop, Best Latin, Best Rock, Best Alternative, and Video For Good. Voting is still open for Best New Artist, Group of the Year, and Song of Summer. 

Best New Artist 2021 VMA Nominees

• 24kgoldn
• Giveon
• The Kid Laroi
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Polo G
• Saweetie

Group of the Year Nominees

• Blackpink
• BTS
• CNCO
• Foo Fighters
• Jonas Brothers
• Maroon 5
• Silk Sonic
• Twenty One Pilots

Song of Summer Nominees 2021 VMAs

• “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish
• “Butter” by BTS
• “Don’t Go Yet” by Camila Cabello
• “Every Chance I Get” by DJ Khaled ft. Lil Baby and Lil Durk
• “Need to Know” by Doja Cat
• “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
• “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran
• “Heartbreak Anniversary” by Giveon
• “Peaches” by Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
• “Stay” by The Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber
• “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow
• “Rumors” by Lizzo ft. Cardi B.
• “Thot S—” by Megan Thee Stallion
• “Wild Side” by Normani ft. Cardi B
• “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrig
• “Summer of Love” by Shawn Mendes & Tainy

Video of the Year Nominees

• “WAP” by Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Popstar” (Starring Justin Bieber) by DJ Khaled ft. Drake 
• “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat ft. SZA
• “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran
• “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
• “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd

Artist of the Year Nominees 2021 VMAs

• Ariana Grande 
• Doja Cat
• Justin Bieber
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Taylor Swift 

Song of the Year Nominees

• “Mood” by 24kgoldn ft. Iann Dior 
• “Leave the Door Open” by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and Silk Sonic
• “Dynamite” by BS 
• “WAP” by Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
• “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo 

Push Performance of the Year Nominees 2021 VMAs

• “Are You Bored Yet” by Wallows (September 2020)
• “Daisy” by Ashnikko (October 2020) 
• “Gorgeous” by Saint Jhn (November 2020)
• “Coco” by 23kgoldn (December 2020)
• “Break My Heart” by JC Stewart (January 2021)
• “Sex Lies” by Latto (February 2021)
• “Selfish” by Madison Beer (March 2021)
• “Without You” by The Kid Laroi (April 2021)
• “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo (May 2021)
• “Serotonin” by Girl in Red (June 2021) 
• “My Slime” by Fousheé (July 2021) 
• “Think About Me” by JXDN (August 2021)

Best Collaboration Nominees

• “Mood” by 24kgoldn ft. Iann Dior 
• “WAP” by Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat ft. SZA
• “Laugh Now Cry Later” by Drake ft. Lil Durk
• “Peaches” by Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
• “Prisoner” by Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa 

Best Pop Nominees 2021 VMAs

• Positions – Ariana Grande 
• Therefore I Am – Billie Eilish 
• Butter – BTS
• Treat People With Kindness – Harry Styles 
• “Peaches” – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
• “Good 4 U” – Olivia Rodrigo 
• Wonder – Shawn Mendes 
• “Willow” – Taylor Swift 

Best Hip-Hop Nominees

• “WAP” by Cardi B. ft. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Laugh Now Cry Later” by Drake ft. Lil Durk
• “On Me (Remix)” by Lil Baby ft. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Said Sum” by Moneybagg Yo 
• “Rapstar” by Polo G
• “Franchise” by Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A.

Best R&B Nominees 2021 VMAs

• “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, and Wizkid
• “Leave the Door Open” by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and Silk Sonic 
• “Go Crazy” by Chris Brown and Young Thug 
• “Heartbreak Anniversary” by Giveon 
• “Come Through” by H.E.R. ft. Chris Brown
• “Good Days” by SZA

Best K-Pop Nominees

• “Dumdi Dumdi” by (g)i-dle
• “Ice Cream” by Blackpink and Selena Gomez 
• “Butter” by BTS 
• “Gambler” by Monsta X
• “Ready to Love” by Seventeen 
• “Alcohol-free” by Twice

Best Latin Nominees 2021 VMAs

• “Dákiti” by Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez
• “Lo Vas a Olvidar” by Billie Eilish and Rosalía
• “Girl Like Me” by Black Eyed Peas and Shakira
• “Un Dia (One Day)” by J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Tainy
• “Bichota” by Karol G 
• “Hawál” by Maluma 

Best Rock Nominees

• “Use My Voice” by Evanescence 
• “Shame Shame” by Foo Fighters
• “Last Train Home” by John Mayer
• “My Own Soul’s Warning” by The Killers
• “The Bandit” by Kings of Leon
• “Raise Vibration” by Lenny Kravitz

Best Alternative Nominees 2021 VMAs

• “Stop Making This Hurt” by Bleachers
• “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals 
• “Follow You” by Imagine Dragons
• “My Ex’s Best Friend” by Machine Gun Kelly ft. Blackbear
• “Shy Away” by Twenty One Pilots
• “Transparentsoul” by Willow ft. Travis Barker

Video For Good Nominees

• “Your Power” by Billie Eilish 
• “Dancing With the Devil” by Demi Lovato
• “Fight for You” by H.E.R. 
• “Worldwide Beautiful” by Kane Brown
• “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
• “Entrepreneur” by Pharrell Williams ft. Jay-Z

How to watch the 2021 MTV VMAs

MTV will air the VMAs live on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. If you don’t have cable, you can stream the entire show on MTV.com on a computer, phone, or tablet. The 2021 Video Music Awards will also be available on AT&T TV Now, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Philo TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.