The 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards were held on 14 November 2021 at the László Papp Budapest Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary. This marked the first time that Hungary hosted the awards show, and as well the first edition to be held in a former Eastern Bloc country. The show was presented by American rapper Saweetie.
Justin Bieber led the nominations, with a total of eight, making him the most nominated male artist. Doja Cat and Lil Nas X were both tied, with six nominations, with Doja being the most nominated female act.
Performances The performers were announced on November 11, 2021. +List of musical performancesArtist(s)Song(s)Main showEd Sheeran "Overpass Graffiti""Shivers"Saweetie "Tap In""Best Friend""Out Out"Imagine DragonsJID "Enemy"Griff "One Night"Girl in Red "Serotonin"OneRepublic "Run"(Filmed at Heroes' Square)MalumaRayvanny "Mama Tetema"Måneskin "Mammamia"Kim Petras "Coconuts""Hit It From The Back"YUNGBLUD "Fleabag"
Presenters The presenters were announced on November 11, 2021. Becca Dudley – Pre-show co-host Jack Saunders – Pre-show co-host Rita Ora – presented Best Latin Winnie Harlow – presented Best Hip-Hop Joel Corry – presented Best New Drew McIntyre – presented Best Rock Ryan Tedder – presented Best Song Manu Gavassi – presented Best Alternative Olly Alexander – presented Best Video Saweetie – presented Best Artist
Winners and nominations The nominations were announced on October 20, 2021. The category Best K-Pop was introduced this year. Best Song Best Video Ed Sheeran — "Bad Habits" Doja Cat (featuring SZA) — "Kiss Me More" Justin Bieber (featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon) — "Peaches" Lil Nas X – "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" Olivia Rodrigo — "Drivers License" the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – "Stay" Lil Nas X – "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" Doja Cat (featuring SZA) — "Kiss Me More" Ed Sheeran — "Bad Habits" Justin Bieber (featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon) — "Peaches" Normani (featuring Cardi B) – "Wild Side" Taylor Swift – "willow" Best Collaboration Best Artist Doja Cat (featuring SZA) — "Kiss Me More" Black Eyed Peas and Shakira — "Girl Like Me" Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – "Industry Baby" the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – "Stay" Silk Sonic — "Leave the Door Open" The Weeknd and Ariana Grande – "Save Your Tears (Remix)" Ed Sheeran Doja Cat Justin Bieber Lady Gaga Lil Nas X The Weeknd Best Group Best New BTS Imagine Dragons Jonas Brothers Little Mix Måneskin Silk Sonic Saweetie Giveon Griff Olivia Rodrigo Rauw Alejandro the Kid Laroi Best Pop Best Electronic BTS Doja Cat Dua Lipa Ed Sheeran Justin Bieber Olivia Rodrigo David Guetta Calvin Harris Joel Corry Marshmello Skrillex Swedish House Mafia Best Rock Best Alternative Måneskin Coldplay Foo Fighters Imagine Dragons Kings of Leon The Killers Yungblud Halsey Lorde Machine Gun Kelly Twenty One Pilots Willow Best Hip-Hop Best Latin Nicki Minaj Cardi B DJ Khaled Drake Kanye West Megan Thee Stallion Maluma Bad Bunny J Balvin Rauw Alejandro Rosalía Shakira Best K-Pop Best Push BTS Lisa Monsta X NCT 127 Rosé Twice Olivia Rodrigo 24kGoldn Foushée Girl in Red Griff JC Stewart Jxdn Latto Madison Beer Remi Wolf Saint Jhn the Kid Laroi Biggest Fans Video for Good BTS Ariana Grande Blackpink Justin Bieber Lady Gaga Taylor Swift 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)"
Regional awards Regional nominations were announced on 20 October 2021.
Europe Best French Act Best German Act Amel Bent Dadju Jérémy Frérot Tayc Vianney badmómzjay Álvaro Soler Provinz Tokio Hotel Zoe Wees Best Hungarian Act Best Israeli Act Azahriah Follow the Flow Halott Pénz Margaret Island Wellhello Noa Kirel Eden Ben Zaken Eden Derso Noga Erez Jasmin Moallem Best Italian Act Best Nordic Act Aka 7even Caparezza Madame Måneskin Rkomi Tessa (Denmark) Drew Sycamore (Denmark) Sigrid (Norway) Swedish House Mafia (Sweden) Zara Larsson (Sweden) Best Polish Act Best Portuguese Act Daria Zawiałow Brodka Krzysztof Zalewski Margaret sanah Diogo Piçarra Bárbara Tinoco Nenny Plutónio Wet Bed Gang Best MTV Russia Act Best Spanish Act Max Barskih Mari Kraimbrery Musia Totibadze Imanbek Slava Marlow Aitana Ana Mena C. Tangana Colectivo Da Silva Pablo Alborán Best Swiss Act Best UK & Ireland Act Gjon's Tears Arma Jackson Monet192 Stefanie Heinzmann Loredana Little Mix Dave Dua Lipa Ed Sheeran KSI Africa Best African Act Wizkid (Nigeria) Amaarae (Ghana) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Focalistic (South Africa) Tems (Nigeria) Asia Best Indian Act Divine Ananya Birla Kaam Bhaari × Spitfire × Rākhis Raja Kumari Zephyrtone Best Japanese Act Best Korean Act Sakurazaka46 Awesome City Club Eve STUTS Vaundy Aespa Cravity STAYC Weeekly WEi Best Southeast Asian Act JJ Lin (Singapore) Ink Waruntorn (Thailand) K-ICM (Vietnam) Naim Daniel (Malaysia) Lyodra (Indonesia) SB19 (Philippines) Australia and New Zealand Best Australian Act Best New Zealand Act Ruel Amy Shark Masked Wolf The Kid Laroi Tones and I Teeks Broods Jolyon Petch Lorde Six60 Americas Best Brazilian Act Best Canadian Act Manu Gavassi Anitta Ludmilla Luísa Sonza Pabllo Vittar Johnny Orlando Justin Bieber Shawn Mendes The Weeknd Tate McRae Best Caribbean Act Best Latin America North Act Bad Bunny Farruko Guaynaa Natti Natasha Rauw Alejandro Alemán Danna Paola Gera MX Humbe Sofía Reyes Best Latin America Central Act Best Latin America South Act Sebastián Yatra Camilo J Balvin Karol G Maluma Tini Duki Nicki Nicole María Becerra Trueno Best US Act Taylor Swift Ariana Grande Doja Cat Lil Nas X Olivia Rodrigo
Controversy Following the adoption of the Hungarian anti-LGBTQ law in June 2021, concerns were raised over Budapest being the location of the event. President and CEO of MTV Entertainment Group Worldwide Chris McCarthy explained that no censorship by the Hungarian government will be tolerated:"As a gay man, my personal emotions got the better of me. After learning this legislation passed, my knee jerk reaction was that we should move the event to another country. However, I picked up the phone to connect with global LGBTQ+ advocates, [...] and consulted our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Emerge. The decision was very clear to all of us, [...] we should not move the event. Instead, we should move forward, using the show as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary and around the world as we continue to fight for equality for all".
Performers included Kim Petras, the first out trans performer at the EMAs, with an act that was intentionally "raunchy and sex positive" and who spoke out to say "It's going to be pretty powerful to be in Hungary and perform the show when these laws have just happened". Other artists were also given stage time to speak out against Hungarian anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including Saweetie and Lil Nas X.
There were also announced five "Generation Change Awards", introduced by Drew Barrymore and honouring LGBTQ+ activists from Iraq, Nigeria, Brazil, the United States and Hungary, with Budapest Pride organiser Viktória Radványi accepting the award in person; the other honourees were Amir Ashour, founder of IraQueer; Matthew Blaise, founder of The Oasis Project in Nigeria; Sage Dolan-Sandrino, an Afro-Cuban queer and trans artist from the United States; and Erika Hilton, the first black trans woman elected to the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo.
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