The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) are a pan-European music awards ceremony established in 1994 to honor the best music videos and artists across global and regional categories. The 2024 edition celebrated the ceremony's 30th anniversary at the Co-op Live in Manchester, with Taylor Swift winning four awards including Best Artist. The 2025 edition has been paused due to the Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger.
How the MTV EMAs Work
The EMAs were created by MTV Networks Europe in 1994 as the European counterpart to the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The ceremony rotates host cities across Europe, with recent editions held in Manchester (2024), Paris (2023), Dusseldorf (2022), and Budapest (2021).
Nominations are based on a combination of European and global chart performance, streaming data, MTV airplay, and editorial selection. The nomination panel considers commercial success, cultural impact, and video quality. Taylor Swift led nominations in both 2023 and 2024, with seven nods in 2024. Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Lisa, and Ayra Starr each received four nominations in 2024.
The EMAs are entirely fan-voted. Public voting through the official MTV EMA website and social media platforms determines winners in all competitive categories. This fan-driven model means artists with highly engaged global fanbases can win regardless of critical consensus, similar to the American Music Awards.
The ceremony is broadcast on MTV channels worldwide and streamed on Paramount+. The 2024 edition aired on MTV UK, Channel 5, and Pluto TV, with streaming on Paramount+ from November 12, 2024.
Categories span global genres (Best Pop, Best Hip Hop, Best Rock, Best Alternative, Best Electronic, Best R&B), regional categories (Best Afrobeats, Best Latin, Best K-Pop), and performance categories (Best Live Act, Best New Act, Best Push). Regional best-act categories recognize winners from individual countries and territories, feeding into the global Best Act category.
Real-World Example: MTV EMAs 2024
The 30th anniversary MTV EMAs took place on November 10, 2024, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom. Rita Ora hosted for a record-breaking third time. The ceremony featured performances from Benson Boone, RAYE, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, The Warning, LE SSERAFIM, Peso Pluma, Tyla, Busta Rhymes, and Pet Shop Boys.
Taylor Swift was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four awards: Best Artist, Best Video for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone, Best US Act, and Best Live Act. Sabrina Carpenter won Best Song for "Espresso." Benson Boone won Best New Act. Ariana Grande won Best Pop. Eminem won Best Hip Hop. Jimin won Best K-Pop. Tyla won Best Afrobeats. Peso Pluma won Best Latin. Liam Gallagher won Best Rock. Imagine Dragons won Best Alternative. Calvin Harris won Best Electronic. Lisa won Biggest Fans. LE SSERAFIM won Best Push.
Busta Rhymes received the Global Icon Award, performing a medley of his greatest hits including "Break Ya Neck," "Touch It," and "Put Your Hands Where the Eyes Can See." Pet Shop Boys received the Pop Pioneers Award. Little Simz won Best UK Act, marking her first MTV award in 34 years of professional recording.
Rita Ora paid tribute to former One Direction star Liam Payne, who had died the previous month. The ceremony marked the EMAs' return to the UK for the first time since 2017.
The 2025 EMAs have been paused as Paramount Global attempts to close its merger with Skydance Media. Several MTV European networks have also closed throughout 2024 and 2025 due to network cuts. The future of the ceremony depends on the merger outcome.
Past Winners by Category
The MTV EMAs have recognized a wide range of global artists across genre-specific and general categories. Below is a selection of major category winners from recent editions. The 2023 ceremony was cancelled due to world events, but winners were still announced through fan voting. The 2025 edition was paused due to the Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger.
| Category | 2023 Winner | 2024 Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best Artist | Taylor Swift | Taylor Swift |
| Best Song | Jung Kook feat. Latto ("Seven") | Sabrina Carpenter ("Espresso") |
| Best Video | Taylor Swift ("Anti-Hero") | Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone ("Fortnight") |
| Best New | Peso Pluma | Benson Boone |
| Best Pop | Billie Eilish | Ariana Grande |
| Best Hip Hop | Nicki Minaj | Eminem |
| Best Rock | Maneskin | Liam Gallagher |
| Best Alternative | Lana Del Rey | Imagine Dragons |
| Best Electronic | David Guetta | Calvin Harris |
| Best R&B | Chris Brown | Tyla |
| Best K-Pop | Jung Kook | Jimin |
| Best Afrobeats | Rema | Tyla |
| Best Latin | Anitta | Peso Pluma |
| Best Collaboration | Karol G and Shakira ("TQG") | Lisa ft. Rosalia ("New Woman") |
| Best Live | Taylor Swift | Taylor Swift |
| Best Push | Tomorrow X Together | LE SSERAFIM |
| Biggest Fans | No winner announced | Lisa |
| Global Icon | Not awarded | Busta Rhymes |
| Pop Pioneers | Not awarded | Pet Shop Boys |
2026 Ceremony Details
As of August 2026, the MTV EMAs have not announced a 2026 edition. The 2025 ceremony was paused due to the Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger, which closed in August 2025. Several MTV European networks also closed throughout 2024 and 2025 due to corporate restructuring.
The most recent ceremony was the 2024 edition, held on November 10, 2024, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom. Rita Ora hosted for a record-breaking third time. The ceremony was broadcast on MTV channels in over 150 countries, with streaming available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Taylor Swift won four awards, including Best Artist and Best Video. Busta Rhymes received the Global Icon Award, and Pet Shop Boys received the Pop Pioneers Award.
The future of the ceremony depends on the new Paramount leadership under Skydance Media. Industry observers expect an announcement about the 2026 or 2027 edition later in the year.
Performance Highlights and Videos
The 2024 MTV EMAs featured performances from Benson Boone, RAYE, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, Pet Shop Boys, Tyla, LE SSERAFIM, The Warning, Peso Pluma, and Busta Rhymes. Below are video highlights from the ceremony and related content.
Pet Shop Boys received the Pop Pioneers Award and performed a medley of "All the Young Dudes" and "West End Girls" with the Manchester Camerata orchestra:
LE SSERAFIM made history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at the MTV EMAs, delivering a medley of "Chasing Lightning" and "Crazy" with 20 local dancers. They also won Best Push. This behind-the-scenes video documents their debut European performance:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The EMAs are entirely fan-voted, which means independent artists with passionate global fanbases can compete with major label acts. The nomination process is data-driven, so strong streaming numbers, social media engagement, and video views can earn a nomination without label lobbying.
The Best New Act and Best Push categories specifically target emerging talent. Benson Boone's win for Best New Act in 2024 shows that relatively new artists can take home top prizes. The Best Push category has historically recognized artists before they achieve mainstream success.
Regional categories create opportunities for independent artists from specific markets. Best Afrobeats, Best K-Pop, and Best Latin categories recognize genres that originate outside the Western mainstream. Tyla's win for Best Afrobeats in 2024 demonstrates that a South African artist can win a global MTV award.
If you are an independent artist, focus on building streaming numbers and social media engagement during the eligibility period. The fan-voted format rewards artists who mobilize their fanbase. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance. Check the MTV EMA website for eligibility windows and voting dates, though the 2025 edition is currently paused.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into EMA nominations
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
- American Music Awards - The US counterpart, also entirely fan-voted
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
