Ed Sheeran sits in the winners room during the MTV EMAs 2021 at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena on Nov. 14, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary.
John Phillips/Getty Images for MTVBTS and Ed Sheeran each won multiple awards at the 2021 MTV EMAs, which were broadcast live from the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday (Nov. 14).
BTS won best pop, best K-Pop, best group and biggest fans. Sheeran took best artist and best song for his smash “Bad Habits.” Sheeran opened the show with his latest single, “Overpass Graffiti.” Later in the show, the British superstar performed his hit “Shivers.”
Lil Nas X won best video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)." The pop star accepted his video via a funny and imaginative film clip in which he played an order-filler at a fast-food restaurant, wearing a "Montero" name tag. A customer in the drive-through handed him the award through his car window.
Justin Bieber, who led the field with eight nominations, didn’t win in any categories. Nor did The Kid LAROI, who had five nominations.
Saweetie, who hosted the show, won best new (beating Olivia Rodrigo, who at least managed to win best push). This is the sixth consecutive year that a female solo artist has won best new. Saweetie follows Zara Larsson, Dua Lipa, Cardi B, Eilish and Doja Cat. Saweetie also performed a medley of her hits “Best Friend,” “Tap In” and “OUT OUT.”
Three other artists both won awards and performed on the show. Colombian heartthrob Maluma won best Latin and also performed his new single “Mama Tetema,” joined by Tanzanian singer Rayvanny. The Italian rock band Måneskin, whose “Beggin’” is in the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, won best rock and also performed “Mammamia.” YUNGBLUD won best alternative and closed the show with a pyrotechnics-filled performance of his latest single “fleabag.”
Awards were also presented to artists representing various countries. Taylor Swift won as best American act. She accepted in a video clip she filmed in New York on Friday.
Kim Petras made EMAs history as the first trans artist to perform at the show. Petras sang a medley of two new unreleased songs, “Coconuts” and “Hit It From the Back.”
Imagine Dragons performed their new single “Enemy,” alongside Grammy-nominated rapper and artist J.I.D. British rising star Griff made her EMA debut performing “One Night.” Norwegian indie pop musician girl in red made her EMA debut performing her hit single “Serotonin.” WorldStage headliners OneRepublic performed “Run” at Heroes Square in Budapest complete with a fireworks finale.
The show also featured appearances by Rita Ora, model Winnie Harlow, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, WWE star Drew McIntyre, Olly Alexander (Years & Years), DJ and producer Joel Corry, and Brazilian singer Manu Gavassi.
For the first time, the MTV EMA Generation Change Award winners were recognized during the EMAs main show. This year’s honorees are five young people who are fighting anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore honored the recipients in a taped piece where she spoke about equality. The MTV EMA Generation Change Award is a part of an expanded partnership between MTV Entertainment (MTVE), a division of ViacomCBS, and All Out, a leading global LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and part of ViacomCBS’ Content for Change initiative.
The event aired on MTV in 180 countries.
Here’s the full list of 2021 MTV EMA winners:
Best Artist
Doja Cat
WINNER: Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd
Best Pop
WINNER: BTS
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
Best Song
Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”
WINNER: Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits”
Justin Bieber – “Peaches” featuring Daniel Caesar, Giveon
Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “Stay”
Best Video
Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits”
Justin Bieber – “Peaches” featuring Daniel Caesar, Giveon
WINNER: Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
Normani featuring Cardi B – “Wild Side”
Taylor Swift – “willow”
Best Collaboration
Black Eyed Peas, Shakira – “Girl Like Me”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) – “Leave the Door Open”
WINNER: Doja Cat featuring SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “Industry Baby”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande – “Save Your Tears” (Remix)
Best New
Giveon
Griff
Olivia Rodrigo
Rauw Alejandro
WINNER: Saweetie
The Kid LAROI
Best Electronic
Calvin Harris
WINNER: David Guetta
Joel Corry
Marshmello
Skrillex
Swedish House Mafia
Best Rock
Coldplay
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
Kings Of Leon
WINNER: Måneskin
The Killers
Best Alternative
Halsey
Lorde
Machine Gun Kelly
Twenty One Pilots
Willow
WINNER: YUNGBLUD
Best Latin
Bad Bunny
J. Balvin
WINNER: Maluma
Rauw Alejandro
Rosalía
Shakira
Best Hip Hop
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Best K-Pop
WINNER: BTS
Lisa
Monsta X
NCT 127
ROSÉ
Twice
Best Group
WINNER: BTS
Imagine Dragons
Jonas Brothers
Little Mix
Måneskin
Silk Sonic
Best Push
24KGoldn
Fousheé
girl in red
Griff
JC Stewart
JXDN
Latto
Madison Beer
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo
Remi Wolf
SAINt JHN
The Kid LAROI
Biggest Fans
Ariana Grande
Blackpink
WINNER: BTS
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Video for Good
WINNER: 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)”
MTV EMA Generation Change Award
(All are award recipients)
Amir Ashour (Iraq)
Matthew Blaise (Nigeria)
Sage Dolan-Sandrino (U.S.)
Erika Hilton (Brazil)
Viktória Radványi (Hungary)
Sharleen Spiteri joined BBC Radio 2’s The Sara Cox Breakfast Show ahead of Texas taking the stage to launch the main live music programme at Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling.
Checking in from rehearsals, the Texas frontwoman spoke about getting ready for the band’s opening performance at City Park. Radio 2’s annual flagship festival takes place there from 11 to 13 September 2026. "I’m match fit because I’ve had a couple of days’ rehearsals," Spiteri said. "We’re kicking the whole weekend off, which we’re very much looking forward to, so everybody’s got to get ready to party."
Before the live acts take over, Friday’s DJ Pre-Party gets the weekend started with Radio 2 favourites Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan behind the decks.
Jo Whiley helped set the mood with a special programme from Stirling’s Tolbooth venue. Working with BBC Introducing Scotland, the broadcast put the spotlight on Scotland’s emerging music scene through performances and conversations with Fright Years, Alice Faye, and James Emmanuel.
Fright Years, a four member band from Edinburgh, played "Never Been Wrong" and offered their take on Simple Minds’ "Waterfront." Glasgow singer and songwriter Alice Faye, the BBC Introducing in Scotland 2026 winner, paired "Some Brief Encounter" with a rendition of Lulu’s arrangement of "I Started a Joke." James Emmanuel, who was born in Nigeria and now lives in Edinburgh, sang "Brothers & Sisters" before taking on Chaka Khan’s "I’m Every Woman."
"We’re all about celebrating BBC Introducing and all the music that’s come out of Scotland," Whiley told listeners. "It's about celebrating the local music scene and the incredibly important work that BBC Introducing does to support independent, up-and-coming artists."
Joining the conversation were Stephanie Cheape, presenter of BBC Introducing in Scotland, Tara McLoughlin, venue manager for Stirling Council, and student radio presenters representing the University of Stirling’s Air3 Radio.
Listeners can catch the complete interviews and live performances from the weekend’s programmes on BBC Sounds.
