MTV has unveiled the nominees for the 2023 Video Music Awards (aka MTV VMAs) and Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Ice Spice, Steve Lacy, Reneé Rapp, Demi Lovato and many more are representing the LGBTQ community for the annual awards ceremony which will take place live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on September 12 at 8pm ET/PT.
Swifties will be happy to know that Taylor Swift leads with the most nominations (8), although Smith, Petras and Cyrus aren’t too far behind clocking in at 5 nominations each. All of them are vying for the top prize of Video of the Year alongside Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and SZA.
Smith and Petras’s “Unholy” and Cyrus’s “Flowers” are also in the running for Song of the Year alongside Steve Lacy‘s “Bad Habit”. Cyrus also earned a nomination for Best Pop and she will be going up against Demi Lovato’s “Swine”. Cyrus’s “River” also earned a nod for Best Editing.
In addition, “Unholy” received a nomination for Best Direction with Janelle Monae’s “Lipstick Lover”. The Smith and Petras anthem also received a nomination for Best Choreography.
For best new artist, Ice Spice and Reneé Rapp are both up for Best New Artist while Måneskin’s “The Loneliest” nabbed a nom for Best Rock. Under the Best Latin category, GLAAD Media Award honoree, Bad Bunny, is nominated for “Where She Goes” as well as “un x100to” with Grupo Frontera.
Bad Bunny will also be going up against Dove Cameron and Demi Lovato in the Video For Good category, which recognizes music videos with a strong social message.
Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories, including the all-new “Best Afrobeats” category, plus the highly-coveted “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year” categories, by visiting vote.mtv.com through September 1st. However, voting for “Best New Artist” will remain active into the show on September 12. Nominations for social categories including “Group of the Year” and “Song of Summer”.
Read the complete list for the MTV VMAs nominations here.