“2021 MTV EMAs” Celebrates Music For All Around The World

The “2021 MTV EMAs” returned live from the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna in Hungary with a global celebration of music for ALL.  The epic event, which aired on MTV in 180 countries, featured electrifying performances from today’s hottest stars and honored some of the world’s biggest artists while also celebrating music, love and equality. Fans in Southeast Asia can catch the same-day premiere on the MTV Asia channel at 8pm (SG, MY, PH) and 7pm (WIB) tonight.

Ed Sheeran took “Best Artist” and “Best Song” for “Bad Habits.” Lil Nas X was awarded “Best Video” for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),”and BTS snagged the most awards with four including “Best Pop,” “Best K-Pop,” “Best Group,” and “Biggest Fans.” 

First-time EMA winners Måneskin took home “Best Rock,” while show host and performer Saweetie won “Best New.” Nicki Minaj earned a top award with “Best Hip-Hop,” Olivia Rodrigo was awarded “Best Push,” Maluma won “Best Latin,” and YUNGBLUD snagged the award for “Best Alternative.”

The “Best Collaboration” award went to Doja Cat ft. SZA for “Kiss Me More,” while David Guetta nabbed “Best Electronic,” and Billie Eilish was honored with “Video for Good.”

Deriving inspiration from the host city’s popular thermal spas and the Danube River, which runs through Budapest, the show was surrounded by water with stages that appeared to be floating.

Grammy Award-winning global superstar Ed Sheeran, who earned top awards for “Best Artist,” and “Best Song,” opened the night surrounded by neon graffiti to perform a lively rendition of his latest single, “Overpass Graffiti.” Later in the show, the British singer-songwriter performed his chart-topping hit “Shivers.”

“Best New” award recipient and EMA host Saweetie brought the fashion and the funny with unforgettable show moments including basking by a pool with champagne in a palm tree-lined oasis, interacting with Squid Games-inspired soldiers in hot pink suits and MTV-branded masks, chatting virtually with friend and Brazilian singer Anitta, and riding a skateboard. Descending from the sky in a glittery snowflake, she also performed a medley of her hits “Best Friend,” “Tap In” and “OUT OUT.” 

Global Latin superstar Maluma and “Best Latin” winner brought the heat for the world premiere performance of his new single “MAMA TETEMA.” Tanzanian singer Rayvanny and a team of dancers joined him on stage for the high-energy performance set in a club and featuring rain.  

Imagine Dragons returned to the EMAs for the debut of their new single “Enemy.” Immersed in a flood of laser lights, the best-selling rock band rocked the stage alongside Grammy-nominated rapper and artist J.I.D and a squad of dancers.   

With a giant “MAMMAMIA” sign shooting off pyrotechnics, first-time EMA performers and “Best Rock” winners Måneskin lit up the stage with a rousing rendition of their hit single “MAMMAMIA.” The Italian rock band was donned in black and gold with lead singer Damiano David sporting a glittery pair of leather briefs.

Kim Petras made her EMAs debut and EMAs history as the first trans artist to perform at the show. With a giant coconut on the stage and clad in a green latex dress with a black bodysuit underneath, the international pop star brought the sexy and the camp with a medley of two new unreleased songs, “Coconuts,” and “Hit It From The Back.” 

British rising star Griff made her EMA debut performing “One Night” with a shadow dancer and dancer dressed in a mirror ensemble.

Norwegian, indie pop musician, and MTV PUSH artist, girl in red made her EMA debut performing her hit single “Serotonin” from her internationally charting debut album, if i could make it go quiet. Initially performing inside a grey house, the beanie-wearing artist went out to get closer to the crowd before the house lifted into the air off the stage. 

World Stage headliners OneRepublic performed a lively rendition of their single “Run” in front of a sold-out crowd at Heroes Square in Budapest complete with a fireworks finale. 

Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and “Best Alternative” award winner YUNGBLUD closed the night with a high-octane, pyrotechnics-filled performance of his latest single “fleabag.” During the electrifying show, people fell from the sky, and the stage was trashed by the performer who at one point kissed his bass player. 

The show also featured special appearances by international pop star Rita Ora, supermodel Winnie Harlow, international musician and producer Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre, international singer-songwriter and actor Olly Alexander (Years & Years), international DJ and producer Joel Corry, and Brazilian star and singer Manu Gavassi.

For the first time, the “MTV EMA Generation Change Award” winners were recognized during the EMAs main show. This year’s honorees are five young changemakers who are furthering equality and love while fighting against anti-LGBTQ+ policies.  Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore honored the recipients via a taped piece where she spoke about equality.  The winners are Amir Ashour (Iraq), founder and chair of the board of IraQueer; Matthew Blaise (Nigeria) a non-binary and openly gay activist and founder of The Oasis Project, which supports queer people in Nigeria; Sage Dolan-Sandrino (United States) an Afro-Cuban queer and trans woman and the founder of a creative studio and digital magazine, the TEAM Mag; Erika Hilton (Brazil) the first Black trans woman ever elected in São Paulo, Brazil, and Viktória Radványi (Hungary) a board member of Budapest Pride, Hungary’s first feminist and anti-racist LGBTQ+ NGO, who appeared on stage to accept the award on behalf of the winners, creating a powerful moment of solidarity with the global LGBTQ+ community. The “MTV EMA Generation Change Award” is a part of an expanded partnership between MTV Entertainment (MTVE), a division of ViacomCBS, and All Out, the leading global LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and part of ViacomCBS’ Content for Change initiative.     

Additionally, MTV celebrated all the local EMA winners from different regions around the globe from Spain to Latin America, to Hungary and Africa. JJ Lin took home the "Best Southeast Asia Act" award.

FULL LIST OF “2021 MTV EMA” WINNERS

*indicates winner

Best Artist      

Doja Cat           

Ed Sheeran*  

Justin Bieber 

Lady Gaga 

Lil Nas X 

The Weeknd

Best Pop          

BTS*

Doja Cat

Dua Lipa

Ed Sheeran

Justin Bieber

Olivia Rodrigo

Best Song 

Doja Cat ft. SZA - Kiss Me More 

Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits*

Justin Bieber - Peaches ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon 

Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) 

Olivia Rodrigo – drivers license  

The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY   

Best Video     

Doja Cat ft. SZA - Kiss Me More 

Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits 

Justin Bieber - Peaches ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon 

Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)*

Normani ft. Cardi B - Wild Side 

Taylor Swift – willow

Best Collaboration 

Black Eyed Peas, Shakira - GIRL LIKE ME 

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open 

Doja Cat ft. SZA - Kiss Me More* 

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow - INDUSTRY BABY 

The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY 

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - Save Your Tears (Remix)

Best New 

Giveon Griff 

Olivia Rodrigo 

Rauw Alejandro 

Saweetie*

The Kid LAROI 

Best Electronic 

Calvin Harris 

David Guetta* 

Joel Corry 

Marshmello 

Skrillex 

Swedish House Mafia   

Best Rock 

Coldplay 

Foo Fighters 

Imagine Dragons 

Kings Of Leon 

Måneskin*

The Killers   

Best Alternative 

Halsey 

Lorde 

Machine Gun Kelly 

Twenty One Pilots 

WILLOW 

YUNGBLUD*  

Best Latin 

Bad Bunny 

J. Balvin 

Maluma* 

Rauw Alejandro 

Rosalía 

Shakira  

Best Hip Hop 

Cardi B

DJ Khaled 

Drake 

Kanye West 

Megan Thee Stallion 

Nicki Minaj*

Best K-Pop 

BTS*

LISA

Monsta X 

NCT 127 

ROSÉ

TWICE   

Best Group 

BTS* 

Imagine Dragons 

Jonas Brothers

Little Mix

Måneskin 

Silk Sonic 

Best Push

24KGoldn

Fousheé

girl in red 

Griff 

JC Stewart 

JXDN Latto 

Madison Beer 

Olivia Rodrigo* 

Remi Wolf 

SAINt JHN 

The Kid LAROI   

Biggest Fans

Ariana Grande

BLACKPINK 

BTS*

Justin Bieber

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift

Best Southeast Asia Act

SB19 (Philippines)

Ink Waruntorn (Thailand)

JJ Lin (Singapore)*

K-ICM (Vietnam)

Lyodra (Indonesia)

Naim Daniel (Malaysia)

Video for Good

Billie Eilish - Your Power*

Demi Lovato - Dancing With The Devil 

girl in red – Serotonin 

H.E.R. - Fight For You 

Harry Styles - Treat People With Kindness 

Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)   

MTV EMA Generation Change Award

Amir Ashour

Matthew Blaise

Sage Dolan-Sandrino

Erika Hilton

Viktória Radványi