Five years ago, Megan Thee Stallion performed on the pre-show at the MTV VMAs. This year, she’s hosting the main show, which will air live on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from New York’s UBS Arena. Megan is only the second performer to make that climb. Nicki Minaj performed on the pre-show in 2010 and co-hosted the main show in 2022 and hosted on her own in 2023.
This is the fourth consecutive year that one or more rappers (or rapper/singers) have hosted the show. Doja Cat hosted in 2021, followed by Jack Harlow, LL Cool J and Minaj in 2022 and Minaj on her own in 2023. The show has had only one other rapper as host. Diddy did the honors in 2005.
This is Megan’s first time hosting an awards show. She has previously hosted Saturday Night Live and co-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Megan has won two VMAs – best power anthem in 2019 for “Hot Girl Summer” and best hip-hop in 2020 for “Savage.” She’s nominated for five awards this year – best collaboration for “Wanna Be” (with GloRilla), best hip hop for “Boa” and three technical awards (best direction, best visual effects and best art direction), also for “Boa.”
In February, Megan’s “Hiss” became her third No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 – and her first without a collaborator. She had landed her first two No. 1s in 2020 – “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, and Cardi B’s “WAP,” on which she was featured.
Megan and Cardi re-teamed to perform “Bongos” on last year’s VMAs. Megan had performed “Big Ole Freak,” “Hot Girl Summer” and “Cash Shit” on the pre-show in 2019.
Megan’s third studio album, MEGAN, was released on March 4. It debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 last month, becoming her sixth album, EP or mixtape to make the top 10.
Katy Perry is this year’s Video Vanguard recipient and will perform a career-spanning medley of hits. This is the third year in a row that a woman has hosted or co-hosted the show while that same woman or another woman was the Vanguard recipient. Minaj co-hosted the 2022 show and was also the Vanguard recipient. Minaj also hosted the 2023 show while Shakira was the Vanguard recipient.
Other previously announced performers on this year’s show are Benson Boone, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, Rauw Alejandro and Sabrina Carpenter.
Taylor Swift is this year’s leading nominee with 10 nominations. Swift’s “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is second with nine nods, followed by Ariana Grande, Eminem and Sabrina Carpenter (six each); Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each); LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).
Fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Aug. 30. Voting for best new artist will remain active into show.
Nominations in social categories will be announced soon.
In observance of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, MTV will again support the nonprofit 9/11 Day, which organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, and Tuesday’s Children, which serves the families of 9/11.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba are executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
