After last year’s MTV Video Music Awards had to be staged all around the city — with limited or no crowds — due to the pandemic, the party is returning to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center this Sunday (Sept. 12, 8 p.m. EST) with vaccinated (and masked) attendees.
Doja Cat, who is up for five Moon Persons, will be hosting the big night, while a star-studded parade of performers and presenters will be taking the VMAs stage. Although Nicki Minaj and Lorde have dropped out, there will still be no wattage shortage of artists rocking the house that Jay-Z built.
Here are all of the performers to watch at this year’s VMAs.
Ed Sheeran
The singer-songwriter, 30, smoothy returned to his hitmaking ways this summer with “Bad Habits” — from his upcoming album “=” — and is up for video of the year for the song’s clip.
Camila Cabello
The former Fifth Harmony singer, 24, is currently starring in “Cinderella” and has a new single, “Don’t Go Yet,” from her upcoming album “Familia.”
Chloe
The 23-year-old, older half of the Beyoncé-co-signed sister act Chloe x Halle will be performing her debut solo single “Have Mercy,” which she just dropped on Friday.
Doja Cat
As if she won’t have enough stage time as host of the 2021 VMAs, the “Say So” singer, 25, will also be performing one of the tracks from her new album, “Planet Her.”
Justin Bieber
The 27-year-old and the night’s top nominee — with seven nods, including one for artist of the year — will flex his superstar skills with a performance that will no doubt set the stage for his upcoming tour.
Kacey Musgraves
The country-pop star, 33, just dropped her new album “Star-Crossed” — the follow-up to her 2018 Grammy-winning “Golden Hour” — and will be making her VMAs debut.
Lil Nas X
Up for five VMAs, the 22-year-old controversial rapper behind the No. 1 hits “Old Town Road” and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” is about to finally drop his debut album, “Montero,” on Sept. 17.
Machine Gun Kelly
Fresh off of his best alternative video win at last year’s VMAs, Megan Fox’s 31-year-old boo will be rocking the stage with his good friend and producer, Travis Barker.
Shawn Mendes
It’s been two years since 23-year-old Mendes canoodled with his No. 1 “Señorita,” Camila Cabello, at the VMAs, but this time he’s performing with Puerto Rican artist Tainy.
Olivia Rodrigo
With hits such as “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U,” this 18-year-old pop princess has basically ruled pop in 2021 — no shade to BTS — and has five VMAs nominations to show for it.
Normani
Camila Cabello won’t be the only former Fifth Harmony member shaking it up solo on the VMAs stage. Normani, 25, will be delivering the debut TV performance of her sexy new single “Wild Side.”
Foo Fighters
Not only will Dave Grohl’s band be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame next month, but they will be receiving the first VMAs Global Icon Award on Sunday — an honor that they will celebrate with what is sure to be a hard-rocking performance.
Twenty One Pilots
Nominated for best alternative video for “Shy Away,” this Grammy-winning group will be rocking away on the VMAs stage.
Jack Harlow
The “Whats Poppin” rapper will be making it pop with Lil Nas X during the performance of their current hit “Industry Baby.”
Travis Barker
The Blink-182 drummer, 45, will be joining Machine Gun Kelly for the world-premiere performance of their new single, “Papercuts.”
The Kid Laroi
Nominated for best new artist and push performance of the year, the Australian rapper-singer, 18, will perform “Stay” with Justin Bieber.
Tainy
Two-time VMAs nominee, this Puerto Rican artist, 32, will join Shawn Mendes for a performance of their single “Summer of Love.”
Ozuna
After making his debut VMAs performance with Rosalía in 2019, the 29-year-old Puerto Rican star returns to the VMAs stage to bring the funk with “La Funka.”