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VMAs 2021: See Photos Of The MTV Video Music Awards

By:
September 12, 2021 9:05PM EDT

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 12. Here are some of the most memorable moments from the show.

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Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutte

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sept. 12, 2021 in New York City. The show was hosted by Doja Cat and featured performances from some of the biggest stars in the music industry. Justin Bieber hit the stage, as did Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, the Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes and more. Plus, celebs like Hailey Baldwin, Kourtney Kardashian, Megan Fox and more were on-hand to present awards. Even Jennifer Lopez made a surprise appearance onstage, as did Ciara!

The biggest award of the night — Video of the Year — went to Lil Nas X, while Justin Bieber took home Artist of the Year and Olivia Rodrigo won Best New Artist. Her track “Driver’s License” was also the big winner for Song of the Year. Keep scrolling through the gallery to see photos of the performances and more special moments from the 2021 VMAs.

September 13, 2021, 7:39AM
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Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Machine Gun Kelly closed out the show when he took to the stage to perform his newest single “Papercuts” at the VMAs. He was joined by Travis Barker on the drums, and both of their ladies — Megan Fox and Kourtney Kardashian — cheered them on from the audience. 

September 12, 2021, 11:24PM
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Doja Cat

Doja Cat
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Doja Cat takes center stage for an epic performance at the 2021 VMAs. She also pulled double duty as host of the big night.

September 12, 2021, 11:24PM
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Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys
Getty Images for MTV/ ViacomCBS

The ultimate concrete jungle welcomed back it’s favorite daughter, Alicia Keys, as she performed a beautiful medley from Liberty State Park in Jersey City for the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. She was joined by Swae Lee, and the pair made the whole tri-state area feel the love.

September 12, 2021, 10:43PM
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Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters accepted a career honor at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving the show’s first-ever global icon award after performing a three-song medley at the show. Look at that smile!

September 12, 2021, 10:55PM
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Normani

Normani
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

She’s a wild thing — she even wrote a whole song about it! And it was with that song that Normani  made history! Performing onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center, the former 5H member made sure everyone knew how good she is as a solo artist with a super, sexy performance of ‘Wild Thing’. 

September 12, 2021, 10:32PM
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Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

After watching his love, Camila Cabello, perform across the stadium from him, Shawn Mendes hit the stage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12 for a beautiful performance of ‘Summer of Love’

September 12, 2021, 9:46PM
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Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Muy caliente! Camila Cabello performed her next single, “Don’t Go Yet”, onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12. She pulled out all the stops, which was loved not just by her fans, but her boyfriend Shawn Mendes, who was caught dancing to her performance from his own stage.

September 12, 2021, 10:18PM
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Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

She’s out here on her own and she’s SLAYING! Giving us all kinds of Beyonce vibes, Chloe Bailey made her debut as a solo artist at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center with a performance of ‘Have Mercy’ 

September 12, 2021, 9:52PM
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Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

No one does it quite like him, and surely, no one looks as good as him doing it! Lil Nas X reunited with Jack Harlow to perform their hit collaboration, “Industry Baby,” for the first time live at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards!

September 12, 2021, 9:28PM
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Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Happy and healthy, yes she! Olivia Rodrigo made her VMAs debut in a big way, with a performance of ‘good 4 u’ that not only opened the show, but started her down the path of MTV superstardom. Just after her performance, she scored her first two wins!

September 12, 2021, 9:09PM
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Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves
Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Let it burn! Kacey Musgraves set the stage on fire during the 2021 VMAs, and the country crooner couldn’t have picked a better song to make her VMAs debut with than ‘Star-Crossed’! 

September 12, 2021, 9:12PM
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Jennifer Lopez Onstage

Jennifer Lopez Onstage
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Jennifer Lopez speaks onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021. She lookes incredible in a black and silver sequined dress.

September 12, 2021, 8:45PM
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Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021. He left a lasting impression that included flying above the stage.

September 12, 2021, 8:45PM
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Doja Cat Hosting

Doja Cat Hosting
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Doja Cat onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021. She rocked a black dress and dark blue gloves.

September 12, 2021, 8:48PM
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Ed Sheeran performs with his acoustic guitar

Ed Sheeran performs with his acoustic guitar
Getty Images for MTV/ ViacomCBS

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at Pier 3 in Brooklyn for the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. He played his acoustic guitar and rocked it.

September 12, 2021, 8:52PM
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Hailey Bieber introducing Kacey Musgraves

Hailey Bieber introducing Kacey Musgraves
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutte

Hailey Bieber introduces a performance by Kacey Musgraves at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center, in New York. She was also spotted dancing to her husband Justin Bieber’s performance during the show. 

September 12, 2021, 8:53PM