MTV’s Video Music Awards took place last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and here’s where you can see all the performances. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion came together to give “Bongos” its live debut, and Lil Wayne performed his new song “Kat Food” for the first time, too. Elsewhere, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Demi Lovato, and Karol G took the stage, as did the K-pop groups Stray Kids and Tomorrow X Together. Anitta and Måneskin both returned to the VMAs for the second year in a row, before a grand finale celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary united Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Taylor Swift and “Anti-Hero” led the field this year, winning seven of the eight main awards for which she was nominated. (She lost out to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” in Best Editing.) The Midnights single won Video of the Year over SZA’s “Kill Bill,” one of the R&B singer’s six nominations behind SOS.
Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2023 VMAs.
Anitta
After bringing “Envolver” to the VMAs last year, Brazilian pop star Anitta returned to perform a medley of hits from Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion brought their new single, “Bongos,” to the stage for the first time. It’s the first collaboration from the hip-hop superstars since their 2021 blockbuster, “WAP.”
