Lizzo.
Photo: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/Getty Images
This year’s MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, took over New Jersey’s Prudential Center for the first time with performances by Missy Elliott (tonight’s recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, RosalÃa, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabelo, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, and many more. The VMAs introduced two new categories for K-pop and another spotlighting “Videos for Good.†But ahead of the often zany (meat dresses, snakes) and almost always unpredictable (baby bumps, Kanye) award show, the world’s biggest pop stars and music-adjacent celebrities strutted their red-carpet best. A few mega stars missed the evening (BTS, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish) entirely. On the carpet, H.E.R. and Tana Mongeau both accessorized with snakes. Halsey traded in her rainbow bangs for rainbow roots. J Balvin continued his hair evolution.
Camila Cabello.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Shawn Mendes.
Photo: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/Getty Images
RosalÃa.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
FKA Twigs.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Halsey.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Queen Latifah.
Photo: Jim Spellman/FilmMagic
Lizzo.
Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Keke Palmer.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
J Balvin.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Lil Nas X.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Bebe Rexha.
Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images
Jamila Mustafa.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Blac Chyna.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
A$AP Ferg.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Redman.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Whitney Port.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Hayley Kiyoko.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Lindsey Vonn.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Big Sean and 2 Chainz.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
H.E.R.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
JuJu.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Ice-T and Coco Austin.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Safaree Samuels.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Diplo.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Gigi and Bella Hadid. Photo: Jim Spellman/FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Gigi and Bella Hadid. Photo: Jim Spellman/FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Victor Cruz.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Adriana Lima.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Alison Brie.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
French Montana.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Serena Kerrigan.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Lenny Kravitz.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
DJ Khaled.
Photo: Jim Spellman/FilmMagic
Maya Taylor.
Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Vin Rock, Treach, and DJ Kay Gee of Naughty By Nature.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Shay Johnson.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Tainy.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Billy Ray Cyrus.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Hilary Roberts.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Lil Kim.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Hailee Steinfeld.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Fetty Wap.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Jonathan Van Ness.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jamie N Commons.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Alyson Stoner.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Nikita Dragun.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Vincent Pastore.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Normani.
Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images
James Charles.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Peppermint.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Monica.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Lance Bass.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Corey Holcomb.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Todrick Hall.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Xavier Serrano.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Heidi Klum.
Photo: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/Getty Images
Damon Sharpe.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Skylar Grey.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Rick Ross.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Sandra “Pepa†Denton.
Photo: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/Getty Images
Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Marc Jacobs.
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for MTV
Lauv.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Sara Bivens and Calvit Hodge.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Nicole “Snooki†Polizzi (left) and JWoww and Clayton Carpinello. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV; (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Nicole “Snooki†Polizzi (left) and JWoww and Clayton Carpinello. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV; (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Trevor Moran.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Hannah Hart.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Gallant.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Wyclef Jean.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Kiana Ledé.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV
Brian B.Dot Miller.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Ilfenesh Hadera.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Tommicus Walker and LeToya Luckett.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Chanel West Coast.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
EarthGang.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Amara La Negra.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
J.I.D.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Afrojack and Elettra Lamborghini.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV
Bianca Quiñones.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Ava Max.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Dolores Catania.
Photo: (C)Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Zara Larsson.
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for MTV
CNCO.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Terrence J.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Cirkut.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV