Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift led the pack of nominees with 12 nods each. And each took home a big award — Grande earned artist of the year, while Taylor received video of the year for “You Need to Calm Down.”
Summer 2019 sensations Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X were both honored with some hardware — including Eilish as best new artist and Lil Nas X for song of the year.
Swift opened the show with “You Need to Calm Down” and “Lover.” Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and others were among the performers. Sebastian Maniscalco hosted the ceremony, which aired from New Jersey’s Prudential Center.
Here is the complete list of winners, below:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” — WINNER
ARTIST OF THE YEAR Cardi B Billie Eilish Ariana Grande — WINNER Halsey Jonas Brothers Shawn Mendes
SONG OF THE YEAR Drake – “In My Feelings” Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” — WINNER Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by Taco Bell® Ava Max Billie Eilish — WINNER H.E.R. Lil Nas X Lizzo ROSALÍA
BEST COLLABORATION Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” — WINNER Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – “I Don’t Care” BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv”
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR Bazzi CNCO Billie Eilish — WINNER H.E.R. Lauv Lizzo
BEST POP 5 Seconds of Summer – “Easier” Cardi B & Bruno Mars – “Please Me” Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” Khalid – “Talk” Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” — WINNER Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
BEST HIP HOP 2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – “Rule the World” 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” Cardi B – “Money” — WINNER DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – “Higher” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” Travis Scott ft. Drake – “SICKO MODE”
BEST R&B Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – “Make It Better” Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer” H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – “Could’ve Been” Alicia Keys – “Raise A Man” Ella Mai – “Trip” Normani ft. 6lack – “Waves” — WINNER
BEST K-POP BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” — WINNER BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” Monsta X ft. French Montana – “Who Do You Love” TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Cat & Dog” NCT 127 – “Regular” EXO – “Tempo”
BEST LATIN Anuel AA, Karol G – “Secreto” Bad Bunny ft. Drake – “MIA” benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – “I Can’t Get Enough” Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – “Con Calma” Maluma – “Mala Mía” ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” — WINNER
BEST DANCE The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha – “Call You Mine” — WINNER Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – “Solo” DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – “Taki Taki” David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – “Say My Name” Marshmello & Bastille – “Happier” Silk City & Dua Lipa – “Electricity”
BEST ROCK The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It” Fall Out Boy – “Bishops Knife Trick” Imagine Dragons – “Natural” Lenny Kravitz – “Low” Panic! At The Disco – “High Hopes” — WINNER twenty one pilots – “My Blood”
VIDEO FOR GOOD Halsey – “Nightmare” The Killers – “Land of the Free” Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – “Runaway Train” John Legend – “Preach” Lil Dicky – “Earth” Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” — WINNER
BEST DIRECTION Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” – Directed by Dave Meyers FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Directed by Andrew Thomas Huang Ariana Grande – “thank you, next” Directed by Hannah Lux Davis Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Directed by Calmatic — WINNER LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” – Directed by Dano Cerny Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Directed by Drew Kirsch & Taylor Swift
Lil Nas X receives ‘Song of the Year’ award onstage during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Aug. 26, 2019 in Newark, N.J. Dimitrios Kambouris/VMN19/Getty Images for MTV
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Billie Eilish – “when the party’s over” – Visual Effects by Ryan Ross, Andres Jaramillo FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Visual Effects by Matt Chandler, Fabio Zaveti for Analog Ariana Grande – “God is a Woman” – Visual Effects by Fabrice Lagayette, Kristina Prilukova & Rebecca Rice for Mathematic DJ Khaled ft. SZA – “Just Us” – Visual Effects by Sergii Mashevskyi LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” – Visual Effects by Ethan Chancer Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier & Lucas Salton for BUF VFX — WINNER
BEST EDITING Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” – Editing by Elias Talbot Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Editing by Calmatic Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” – Editing by Billie Eilish — WINNER Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” – Editing by Hannah Lux Davis & Taylor Walsh Solange – “Almeda” – Editing by Solange Knowles, Vinnie Hobbs, Jonathon Proctor Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Editing by Jarrett Fijal
BEST ART DIRECTION BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” – Art Direction by JinSil Park, BoNa Kim (MU:E) Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” – Art Direction by John Richoux — WINNER Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Art Direction by Itaru Dela Vegas Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Art Direction by Brittany Porter Kanye West and Lil’ Pump ft. Adele Givens – “I Love It” – Art Direction by Tino Schaedler
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Choreography by Kelly Yvonne ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna — WINNER LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” – Choreography by Ryan Heffington Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” – Choreography by Calvit Hodge, Sara Biv Solange – “Almeda” – Choreography by Maya Taylor, Solange Knowles BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” – Choreography by Rie Hata
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” – Cinematography by Elias Talbot Billie Eilish – “hostage” – Cinematography by Pau Castejon Ariana Grande – “thank you, next” – Cinematography by Christopher Probst Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham — WINNER Solange – “Almeda” – Cinematography by Chayse Irvin, Ryan Marie Helfant, Justin Hamilton Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” – Cinematography by Starr Whitesides
BEST GROUP NOMINEES: 5 Seconds of Summer Backstreet Boys BLACKPINK BTS — WINNER CNCO Jonas Brothers PRETTYMUCH Why Don’t We
BEST POWER ANTHEMS: Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” DJ Khaled, ft. Cardi B & 21 Savage – “Wish Wish” Halsey – “Nightmare” Lizzo ft. Missy Elliott – “Tempo” Maren Morris – “GIRL” Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” Taylor Swift – “You Need To Calm Down” Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign “Hot Girl Summer” — WINNER
SONG OF SUMMER PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG: Ariana Grande & Social House – “boyfriend” — WINNER Billie Eilish – “bad guy” DaBaby – “Suge” Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – “I Don’t Care” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” Khalid – “Talk” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” Lil Tecca – “Ransom” Lizzo – “Truth Hurts” Miley Cyrus- “Mother’s Daughter” Post Malone ft. Young Thug – “Goodbyes” ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” Taylor Swift – “You Need To Calm Down” The Chainsmokers & Bebe Rexha – “Call You Mine” Young Thug ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott – “The London”