Taylor Swift tops the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) nominations, appearing in eight categories.
The nominated artists were announced on Tuesday (August 8) and it’s women who dominate this year, with SZA up for six awards, and Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Petras and Nicki Minaj close behind with five each.
Sam Smith also picked up five nominations, while Shakira, BLACKPINK and Diddy were nominated in four categories.
For the first time since the Artist of the Year category was introduced in 2017, all nominees are women: Taylor Swift, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Beyoncé and Karol G.
Taylor Swift’s hit Anti-hero earned seven nominations: Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Direction.
Taylor Swift could thus become the most awarded artist in the history of the VMAs, but will have to win at least six awards. The singer currently has 14 VMAs, while Madonna has 20.
Although SZA earned six nominations this year, she was not recognized in the Artist of the Year category. His hit song Kill Bill earned him five nominations: Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Art Direction. His hit, however, was recognized in the Best R&B category.
Anti-Hero and Kill Bill are joined in the Song of the Year category by Flowers by Miley Cyrus, Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo, Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez, Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras and Bad Habit by Steve Lacy.
First-time VMA nominees include Kim Petras, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, GloRilla, Ayra Starr and Peso Pluma.
A new category has been added to this year’s edition: Best Afrobeats.
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will be held on September 12 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It is not yet known who will host the ceremony.
Fans can now visit vote.mtv.com to choose their favorite artist in 15 of the gender-neutral categories.
Other nominations, including Group of the Year and Song of the Summer, will be announced at a later date.
Here is the main list of nominees:
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Clip of the Year
Doja Cat – Warning
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Artist of the Year
Beyonce
Doja Cat
Karol G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Emerging Artist
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Renée Rapp
Best Collaboration
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
Post Malone & Doja Cat – I Like You (A Happier Song)
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
KAROL G & Shakira – TQG
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Best Pop
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
P!NK – Trustfall
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Hip Hop
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
DJ Khalid ft. Drake & Lil Baby – STAYING ALIVE
GloRilla & Cardi B – Tomorrow 2
Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
lil wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – Kant Nobody
Metro Boomin ft. Future – Superhero (Heroes and Villains)
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Best Rock
Foo Fighters – The Teacher
Linkin Park – Lost (Original Version)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tippa My Tongue
Måneskin – The Loneliest
Metallica – Lux Aeterna
Muse – You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween
Best Alternative
Blink-182 – Edging
Boygenius – The Film
Fall Out Boy – Hold Me Like a Grudge
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Paramore – This Is Why
Thirty Seconds To Mars – Stuck
Best R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – Stay
Chloe ft. Chris Brown – How Does It Feel
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
SZA – Shirt
Toosii – Favorite Song
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – Love In The Way
Video for Good
Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)
Bad Bunny – El Apagón Aquí Vive Gente
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dove Cameron – Breakfast
Imagine Dragons – Crushed
Maluma – The Queen
Best Cinematography
Adele – I Drink Wine
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Janelle Monae – Lipstick Lover
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Achievement
Doja Cat – Warning
Drake – Falling Back
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Art Direction
Boygenius – The Film
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Doja Cat – Warning
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
SZA – Shirt
Best Visual Effects
Fall Out Boy – Love From the Other Side
Harry Styles – Music for a Sushi Restaurant
Melanie Martinez – Void
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Choreography
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Jonas Brothers – Waffle House
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
Panic! at the Disco – Middle of a Breakup
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Editing
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Kendrick Lamar – Rich Spirit
Miley Cyrus – River
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero