VMAs GO GLOBAL

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on 9/12 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, despite the ongoing writers strike.

The first round of performers, announced Tuesday (8/22), speak to the growing number of global acts making inroads in the U.S.; Colombian singer KAROL G, South Korean boy band Stray Kids and Italian rockers Måneskin will perform, as will American Demi Lovato. This will be the inaugural live VMA performance for KAROL and Stray Kids.

KAROL G is up for three awards, including Artist of the Year, while Stray Kids are hoping for a win in the Best K-Pop category. G's MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO landed at #1 in March, making her the first woman to reach the top spot with an all-Spanish-language album. Stray Kids' 5-STAR: The 3rd Album topped the chart in June, marking the group’s third #1 in 15 months.

Lovato, a 14-time nominee, is returning to the VMA stage for the first time in six years days before the 9/15 arrival of her remix album, Revamped. Måneskin, meanwhile, is performing for its second consecutive year. The group will do new single "Honey (Are You Coming?)," slated for release on 9/1.

It will come as no surprise that Taylor Swift leads this year’s nominations with eight, followed by SZA (six), Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Smith (five each) and BLACKPINK, Diddy and Shakira (four each).

Fans can vote in 15 gender-neutral categories here through 9/1.