The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song is the main award of the MTV Europe Music Awards. It was first awarded in 1994, when "7 Seconds" won it, and has been given out every year since. The category was renamed Most Addictive Track for the 2007 and 2008 shows. The artists with the most nominations in this category are Ariana Grande and Beyoncé. Beyoncé, Jungkook, Lady Gaga and Pink have won the award twice.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video is an award category presented at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The award was first presented in 1994 under the name Best Director, awarded to Whale's "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe". This is the only MTV EMA award - excluding special awards - whose winner is chosen by MTV, rather than by the public. "Hey Ya!", "Born This Way" and "Havana" are the only music videos to also win Best Song. The artist with the most wins is Taylor Swift with four wins. Taylor Swift is the artist with the most nominations, with seven. Swift and Kendrick Lamar are the only performers to have won the award for a video they co-directed: Lamar for "Humble" in 2017 and Swift for "Me!" in 2019.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 1994. Originally called Breakthrough Artist (1994—1999), it was briefly retitled to Future Sounds in 2006 and the winner was chosen by their peers. In 2007 the category featured only European artists chosen by viewers in each region of Europe, every day the artist with the fewest votes was eliminated and the winner would play live at the EMAs. In 2008 the award was once again retitled, this time to its current name. The current holder by this award is Benson Boone.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Rock has been awarded since 1994. During the 2002 ceremony the category was separated, creating an additional award entitled Best Hard Rock Act. The category was briefly retitled to this during the 2007 and 2008 ceremonies, before reverting to its original name during the following year. Linkin Park holds the most wins, with five, followed by Coldplay with four.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Alternative has been awarded since 1997.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Live Act is an award category for the MTV Europe Music Awards. It was first awarded in 1995, which Take That won for their Nobody Else Tour lasting from March to October 1995. U2 and Ed Sheeran won the award the most times, both receiving two awards. The award was briefly named Best Headliner for the 2007 and 2008 ceremonies.
The MTV Europe Music Award for the best UK & Ireland act has been a regional category since 1998 and have been won by 18 different acts
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop was first presented in 1998. British girl group the Spice Girls were the first ever act to receive the award. American singer Britney Spears was the first solo female artist to win the award in 1999, while American singer Justin Timberlake was the first male solo artist to win in 2003. South Korean boy group BTS are the first Kpop act to be nominated in this category in 2020. British boy band One Direction are currently the act with the most award wins in this category, receiving a total of three.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Electronic was originally entitled Best Dance and was first awarded in 1994 until 2003. It was one of the original two genre categories that were added to the MTV Europe Music Awards that year. After an interruption of eight years, the category was revived in 2012, in which it was renamed to its current title.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Hip Hop has been awarded since 1998. Originally entitled Best Rap, the award was renamed to its current title in 1999. Eminem has won this award ten times, followed by Nicki Minaj with eight times.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Push Act was first awarded in 2009.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Biggest Fans is an award category at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The award was first presented in 2011 and has been given every year since except 2023. BTS is the most awarded artist in this category, with five wins. Taylor Swift is the most nominated artist in this category, with nine nominations.
The MTV Europe Music Award for Best Collaboration is an award category at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The award was first presented in 2015 and not given from 2016 to 2018, making a return in 2019. Karol G and Rosalía are the only artists to win this award twice, Karol G for "Tusa" with Nicki Minaj in 2020 and "TQG" with Shakira in 2023, and Rosalía for "Con Altura" with J Balvin and El Guincho in 2019 and "New Woman" with Lisa in 2024.
