MTV VMAs 2023: Swift’s Sweep and Shakira’s Historic Win Steal the Spotlight

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) was a night to remember, with the music industry’s biggest names coming together to celebrate their achievements and share their artistry with the world. The event, which took place at New Jersey’s Prudential Center, was a blend of electrifying performances, emotional moments, and groundbreaking wins.

Taylor Swift emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, securing awards in nine categories, including the coveted titles of “Video of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for her hit single “Anti-Hero.” With these accolades, Swift has further solidified her position in the music industry, now holding the record for the second most overall wins in VMA history.

Another monumental moment of the night was Shakira’s receipt of the Video Vanguard Award, making her the first South American artist to achieve this honor. The award recognizes artists who have made significant contributions to the music video landscape, and Shakira’s win is a testament to her enduring influence and innovative approach to visual storytelling.

The VMAs also highlighted a new generation of artists, with first-time nominees like Petras, Metro Boomin, Boygenius, Fletcher, Rema, and Arya Starr making their mark. Their nominations signify a shift in the music landscape, with fresh voices and diverse sounds taking center stage.

In addition to the awards, the VMAs were a showcase of fashion and style. Celebrities graced the red carpet with stunning outfits, with Selena Gomez turning heads in a striking red dress and Taylor Swift dazzling in a bejeweled ensemble.

The 2023 VMAs also saw a diverse pool of nominees, with artists like Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, and Nicki Minaj vying for multiple trophies. This diversity reflects the inclusive nature of the music industry today, where artists from various backgrounds and genres come together to create a rich tapestry of sound.

As the night concluded, it was clear that the 2023 MTV VMAs were not just an award show but a celebration of music, creativity, and the artists who push boundaries and inspire millions. With such a successful event, fans and artists alike eagerly await what the next year will bring to this iconic stage.

See full list of winners below:

Video of the Year
Doja Cat – “Attention”
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
Beyoncé
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 New Artist
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp

Push Performance of the Year
Saucy Santana – “Booty”
Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You”
JVKE – “golden hour”
Flo Milli – “Conceited”
Reneé Rapp – “Colorado”
Sam Ryder – “All the Way Over”
Armani White – “GOATED”
FLETCHER – “Becky’s So Hot”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”
Ice Spice – “Princess Diana”
FLO – “Losing You”
Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part”

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 with the Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Best Pop
Demi Lovato – “Swine”
Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night (From Barbie The Album)”
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 Khaled 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 & Villains)”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”

Best R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay”
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel”
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
SZA – “Shirt”
Toosii – “Favorite Song”
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way”

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 Rock
Foo Fighters – “The Teacher”
Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)”
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue”
Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST”
Metallica – “Lux Æterna”
Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween”

Best Latin
Anitta – “Funk Rave”
Bad Bunny – “WHERE SHE GOES”
Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola”
Grupo Frontera Bad Bunny – “un x100to”
KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”
ROSALÍA – “DESPECHÁ”
Shakira – “Acróstico”

Best K-Pop
aespa – “Girls”
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom”
FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid”
SEVENTEEN – “Super”
Stray Kids – “S-Class”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”

Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr – “Rush”
Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty”
Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE”
Fireboy DML & Asake – ”Bandana”
Libianca – “People”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Wizkid ft. Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar”

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 – “La Reina”

Show of the Summer
Beyoncé
BLACKPINK
Drake
Ed Sheeran
KAROL G
Taylor Swift

Group of the Year
BLACKPINK
FIFTY FIFTY
FLO
Jonas Brothers
Måneskin
NewJeans
SEVENTEEN
TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Album of the Year
Beyoncé – Renaissance
Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
SZA – SOS
Taylor Swift – Midnights

Song of the Summer
Beyoncé – “Cuff It”
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For? (From Barbie The Album)”
Doechii ft. Kodak Black – “What It Is (Block Boy)”
Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red”
Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night (From Barbie The Album)”
FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid (Twin Ver.)”
Gunna – “fukumean”
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
Luke Combs – “Fast Car”
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice – “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album] ”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice – “Karma”
Tomorrow X Together and Jonas Brothers – “Do It Like That”
Troye Sivan – “Rush”
Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma – “La Bebe (Remix)”

Best Direction
Doja Cat – “Attention” (Directed by Tanu Muiño)
Drake – “Falling Back” (Directed by Director X (Julien Christian Lutz))
Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” (Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar)
Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” (Directed by Colin Tilley)
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” (Directed by Floria Sigismondi)
SZA – “Kill Bill” (Directed by Christian Breslauer)
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Directed by Taylor Swift)

Best Cinematography
Adele – “I Drink Wine” (Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra)
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” (Cinematography by Natasha Baier)
Janelle Monae – “Lipstick Lover” (Cinematography by Allison Anderson)
Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” (Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra)
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” (Cinematography by Marcell Rev)
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” (Cinematography by Russ Fraser)
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Cinematography by Rina Yang)

Best Visual Effects
Fall Out Boy – “Love From The Other Side” (Visual Effects by Thomas Bailey and Josh Shaffner)
Harry Styles – “Music For A Sushi Restaurant” (Visual Effects by Chelsea Delfino and Black Kite Studios)
Melanie Martinez – “VOID” (Visual Effects by Carbon)
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” (Visual Effects by CameoFX)
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” (Visual Effects by Max Colt / FRENDER)
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Visual Effects by Parliament)

Best Choreography
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” (Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX))
Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” (Choreography by Charm LaDonna)
Jonas Brothers – “Waffle House” (Choreography by Jerry Reece)
Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” (Choreography by Sean Bankhead)
Panic! At The Disco – “Middle Of A Breakup” (Choreography by Monika Felice Smith)
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” (Choreography by (LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel)

Best Art Direction
boygenius – “the film” (Art Direction by Jen Dunlap)
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” (Art Direction by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT))
Doja Cat – “Attention” (Art Direction by Spencer Graves)
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” (Art Direction by Brandon Mendez)
Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” (Art Direction by Wes Dogan)
SZA – “Shirt” (Art Direction by Kate Bunch)

Best Editing
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” (Editing by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT))
Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit” (Edited by Grason Caldwell)
Miley Cyrus – “River” (Edited by Brandan Walter)
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” (Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel)
SZA – “Kill Bill” (Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert)
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Edited by Chancler Haynes)

Video Vanguard Award
Shakira

Global Icon Award
Diddy