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MTV VMAs 2015: When are they, what time do they start and who is performing?

See what's in store for the biggest event of the year in the pop culture calendar

Daisy Wyatt
Sunday 30 August 2015 11:14 BST
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Taylor Swift performs on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards 2014
Taylor Swift performs on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards 2014 (Getty Images)

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When are the VMAs?

This year’s MTV Video Music Awards take place on Sunday 30 August at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

What time do the awards start?

9pm EST.

How can I watch them?

The VMAs will be broadcast live on MTV in the US. The ceremony will not be live streamed online for viewers around the world. Those in the UK can catch up on what went down at 8pm on Monday 31 August on MTV, by which time we’ll all know the highlights anyway.

Who is presenting?

Shaking off her squeaky clean Hannah Montana image: Robin Thicke performs with Miley Cyrus at the VMAs.
Shaking off her squeaky clean Hannah Montana image: Robin Thicke performs with Miley Cyrus at the VMAs. (Rex Features)

None other than Miley Cyrus, just two years after her coming of age foam finger performance with Robin Thicke. Parent teacher associations across the US will be bracing themselves.

Who is performing?

Get ready for Justin (Bieber, not Timberlake, unfortunately), Demi Lovato, Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Tori Kelly, Twenty One Pilots and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Kanye will no doubt take to the stage at some point - whether to perform or interrupt someone else.

Is Kanye West getting a lifetime achievement award?

Kanye West is to be honoured with the MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award
Kanye West is to be honoured with the MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award (MTV)

Yes, Kanye will be given this year’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, the ceremony’s highest honour, to recognise his “ground-breaking videos, legendary performances and continued impact of music, art, fashion and culture.”

The internet is hoping Taylor Swift will be chosen to present Kanye with the award as pay back from “Imma gonna let you finish” in 2009.

Who is nominated?

Taylor Swift is likely to sweep the board
Taylor Swift is likely to sweep the board (Getty)

Taylor Swift tops the nominations with 10 nods, followed by Ed Sheeran with six. Beyoncé has five and Kendrick Lamar follows with four.

But as we know, no-one cares about the winners (apart from Kanye West). It’s all about who can deliver the most headline-grabbing performance, such as these:

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