Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the awards show highlighted its most iconic moments while honoring new artists, such as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. The best moments from the MTV VMAs, as Taylor Swift wins big.
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards took over the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 11. Hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, the 2024 VMAs boasted a surprisingly consistent, inventive and impressive run of performances.
This year’s broadcast marks 40 years of the VMAs, which had its inaugural show at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 14, 1984. One of that night’s big winners – Cyndi Lauper – was present at this year’s show, introducing a performance by 2024 breakthrough Sabrina Carpenter. Plus, dozens of clips from VMAs past were peppered throughout the show, reminding viewers of odd moments they may have forgotten and legendary ones no one could.
Taylor Swift swept, again
It was fitting that for a 40th anniversary show, new history was made at the 2024 VMAs, with Taylor Swift tying Beyoncé as the top VMA winner of all time. Swift, who recently endorsed Kamala Harris for President of the United States, appeared in person to accept two awards and honor the victims and memory of 9/11 on its anniversary.
But awards and speeches have never really been the thrust of the VMAs – it’s always been about the musical performances. From Katy Perry’s Video Vanguard Award medley to LL COOL J’s 40th anniversary salute to Def Jam to sets from rising stars Chappell Roan and Carpenter, here are the best performances from the 2024 VMAs.
LE SSERAFIM
Le Sserafim made their VMAs debut with a performance of their dance-pop hit "1-800-hot-n-fun" on the official MTV pre-show. The South Korean girl group — members of which include Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae — gave an energetic performance, complete with killer choreography and powerful pyrotechnics. "Baby, can I turn up the party? / I like to dance when I party / I like to kiss everybody," they sing in the song. Fans of Le Sserafim first heard "1-800–hot-n-fun" during their performance at Coachella 2024. It was later officially released, as the fourth track off their EP, CRAZY.
Anitta feat. Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Tiago PZK
It’s a tribute to how inventive and memorable this year’s performances were that Anitta’s celebratory set ends up comparatively low on this list. “Paradise,” abetted by DJ Khaled and Fat Joe, worked well enough; Tiago PZK brought a charismatic passion to “Alegría”; and Anitta’s choreo was on-point as always for “Savage Funk.” But when sized up next to a stacked evening, the overall performance faded a bit from memory.
Camila Cabello
After a bit of “June Gloom,” Camila Cabello delivered her impassioned new single “Godspeed” at the VMAs. A heartfelt kiss-off to an ex (who may or may not have been at the show), “Godspeed” found Cabello in a reflective, confessional state. The visual concept was cool, but “Godspeed” felt more like a song that she needed to get off her chest than a song people wanted to hear toward the end of a three-hour-plus awards show. But with the laptop-smashing finale, she at least has an excuse not to answer any emails tomorrow.
Benson Boone
Listening to Benson Boone’s No. 2 Hot 100 hit “Beautiful Things” might not prep you for Benson Boone the on-stage force. Wearing a glittery blue onesie with a deep V-neck, Boone jumped around the VMAs stage like Super Mario (a fellow mustache enthusiast) after snagging an invincibility star, pulling off a flawless forward flip during one jaw-dropping moment. Despite the acrobatics, Boone still managed to nail an impassioned vocal performance without losing a beat. He’s giving major shades of Elton John and Brendon Urie — and seems poised for a long haul of a career.
LISA
The BLACKPINK member has proven herself adept at killer choreography and eye-popping visuals in the past, but LISA’s solo turn at the 2024 VMAs felt like a swing and a miss. “New Woman” could have used a little oomph from Rosalía, and the “Rockstar” choreography was solid but never head-turning, much less show-stopping.
Rauw Alejandro
If anyone wasn’t familiar with Rauw Alejandro’s live prowess before watching the VMAs, they’re unlikely to forget it anytime soon. On an NYC skyline backdrop that evoked Broadway’s classic West Side Story, Alejandro demonstrated his gravity-defying footwork, killer rhythms, seductive vocals and fly style (the fedora, loose pants and tight white tank top felt both classic and contemporary) as he sang a medley of “Touching the Sky,” “Diluvio” and “Déjame Entrar.”
GloRilla
Memphis breakout GloRilla fired up the VMAs (literally) with “Yeah Glo!” and “TGIF,” bringing an infectious joy, flames and rock star energy to the stage. Arriving near the end of the VMAs’ lengthy broadcast, the impact of her solid performance was slightly dulled for those watching in real-time – though anyone nodding off after three hours of an awards show likely woke up when she narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction mid-song.
Eminem
As a troupe of Slim Shady lookalikes invaded the UBS Arena (conjuring up the ghost of his 2000 VMAs performance) Eminem kicked off the 2024 VMAs with the Steve Miller Band-interpolating “Houdini.” After the Slim Shady doppelgangers disappeared, Em rapped his raw, confessional Jelly Roll collab “Somebody Save Me” with the country singer appearing via video screen. Toward the end of the performance, Em sat down on a ratty couch, looking genuinely pensive as Jelly Roll’s vocals closed out the song.
Halsey
Halsey got their suburban emo rocks off during her VMAs performance of “Ego,” which saw them flaunting some My Chemical Romance/Freaky Friday fashion and wailing on an electric guitar on a stage dressed up to look like a cozy garage practice space. It made a convincing case that had Halsey wanted a career as a sneering pop-punker instead of a genre-mashing pop singer, she probably could have had that, too.
Lenny Kravitz feat. Quavo
The ageless, ever fashionable and effortlessly sensual Lenny Kravitz returned to the VMAs this year, opening with a ripping take on his 1993 hit “Are You Gonna Go My Way” before delivering new single “Human” (which stood up pretty well alongside a stone-cold ‘90s rock classic). Joined by Quavo, he wrapped the medley with “Fly,” a trap update of his unforgettable 1998 smash “Fly Away.” The two have great on-stage chemistry and gave a nice jolt of energy (and visual flair) to the show in its fourth quarter.
Karol G
Karol G racked up another huge awards show victory at the 2024 VMAs. Wearing a pair of hip-hugging jeans that brought to mind Christina Aguilera circa Stripped, Karol G moved around the stage (and through the crowd) with a casual confidence, delivering a colorful performance of “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” that emphasized the irresistible, welcoming rhythms of her peerless Latin pop.
Shawn Mendes
On a smoky stage dressed down to look like a living room, Shawn Mendes debuted his new Shawn song “Nobody Knows” at the VMAs. A folk-rock tune that gradually grew in intensity, “Nobody Knows” shows off his vocal chops, maturing songcraft and how simpatico Mendes and his band are. Maybe he has been listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen these days, but it’s rubbed off nicely.
LL COOL J feat. Public Enemy
It’s been a pleasant surprise that old-school rap hasn’t disappeared from every award shows just because the 50th anniversary of hip-hop is behind us, particularly because some of the veterans – including the tireless LL COOL J, who performed a 40th anniversary tribute to Def Jam at the VMAs – can spit as vociferously as ever. Joined by the indefatigable Public Enemy on “Bring the Noise,” LL COOL J, who popularized the phrase G.O.A.T., trotted out several such hip-hop tracks, from “Mama Said Knock You Out” to “Rock the Bells” to “Goin’ Back to Cali” to “Doin’ It.” It’s a tribute to his muscular, commanding stage presence that his new songs (hailing from his latest LP, The Force) sounded perfectly at home when sharing stage time with his classics.
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
Not only did Megan Thee Stallion host the 2024 VMAs, but she performed a kick-ass medley of songs from her latest album, too. “Boa” and “B.A.S.” served as the warm-up for her Hot 100-topping, crowd-pleasing hit “Hiss,” but it was “Mamushi” that stole the show. Megan (an avowed fan of Japanese culture, including anime) brought out Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba for their rousing, buzzy collab.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry added another notch to her belt as 2024’s VMA Video Vanguard Award winner. Wisely leaving the ill-received “Woman’s World” behind, Perry sang 21st century pop classics from “Firework” to “California Gurls” to “Dark Horse” with impressive vocal control and flaunted the kind of visual panache that made us Katycats in the first place.
Whether sailing through the air while hopping on her dancers’ shoulders, draping herself over a twerking Doechii on their new collab “I’m His, He’s Mine” or trotting out silvery balloon wings for “I Kissed a Girl,” Perry’s VMAs performance felt like a well-deserved (and frankly much-needed) victory lap for a pop icon gearing up to release a new album.
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan’s undeniable melodies, outside-the-box visuals and authenticity have been a blessing and relief for pop Stans in 2024 — and as with her Lollapalooza and Governors Ball performances, she killed at the VMAs.
Taking the stage in medieval battle gear as if she were Joan of Arc (Roan of Arc, if you will), Roan blasted a flaming crossbow at a gated castle, then performed “Good Luck, Babe!” while sword-wielding knights danced and the castle burned. Prayers up for our uncompromising pop crusader.
Sabrina Carpenter
A new force in pop music has arrived. Her medley at the 2024 VMAs made it clear that there’s a new pop sheriff in town – and she has yet to miss. Hanging from the ceiling on a diamond-encrusted swing (evoking 2001’s Moulin Rouge) while sweetly crooning “Please Please Please,” Carpenter descended to a moon surface-styled stage to sing “Taste” while a horny astronaut and scantily clad alien got handsy. After tossing the moon man into oblivion, she made out with the alien, then launched her offstage, too.
Finally, after strutting down a catwalk with the confidence of a newly arrived star, Carpenter sang “Espresso” while a troupe of astronaut dancers percolated around her. She closed it all with a Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes pose atop her backup boys — oh, and did we mention she was wearing the same Bob Mackie-designed dress Madonna wore to the 1991 Oscars red carpet alongside Michael Jackson? All in all, perfectly crafted – but what else would you expect from a Carpenter?
Here’s the full list of the 2024 MTV VMAs winners:
Video of the year: Taylor Swift
Artist of the year: Taylor Swift
Song of the year: Sabrina Carpenter — “Espresso”
Best new artist: Chappell Roan
MTV PUSH performance of the year: Le Sserafim — “Easy”
Best collaboration: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone — “Fortnight”
Best pop: Taylor Swift
Best hip-hop: Eminem — “Houdini”
Best R&B: SZA — “Snooze”
Best alternative: Benson Boone — “Beautiful Things”
Best rock: Lenny Kravitz — “Human”
Best Latin: Anitta — “Mil Veces”
Best K-pop: Lisa — “Rockstar”
Best Afrobeats: Tyla — “Water”
Video for good: Billie Eilish — “What Was I Made For (From The Motion Picture “Barbie”)
Best direction: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Best cinematography: Ariana Grande — “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Best visual effects: Eminem — “Houdini”
Best choreography: Dua Lipa — “Houdini”
Best art direction: Megan Thee Stallion — “BOA”
Best editing: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Best trending video: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi”
Best group: Seventeen
Song of summer: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
VMAs most iconic performance: Katy Perry — “Roar”
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