Where Are the MTV Awards Held
The MTV Video Music Awards traditionally rotate among major U.S. cities, with the ceremony frequently staged at large indoor arenas and event venues in the New York metropolitan area. The show is produced by ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks and broadcast live on the MTV cable channel, with simultaneous streaming on Paramount+ and the MTV app. For the most recent editions, the primary venue has been the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, which opened in 2021 and is located on the grounds of Belmont Park. The broadcast reaches audiences in more than 160 countries through localized MTV channels and digital platforms, and the event is also available on the official MTV website mtv.com.
Historically, the ceremony has been held at venues such as the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The choice of city is driven by venue capacity, production infrastructure, and partnerships with local tourism boards. The 2023 ceremony took place at the UBS Arena, reinforcing the New York metro area as the primary hub for the event in recent years. The show typically runs for approximately three hours and features a mix of live musical performances, scripted sketches, and award presentations across more than a dozen categories.
Who Sponsors the MTV Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards are supported by a mix of consumer brands, technology companies, and media partners that pay for integrated sponsorship placements across the broadcast and digital extensions. Major sponsors have included companies in the beverage, automotive, telecommunications, and entertainment sectors, with specific brand partnerships varying by year and negotiated media rights. The awards show is part of ViacomCBS's broader portfolio of events that also includes the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards, which are held in different regions and follow a similar sponsorship model.
Sponsorship revenue supports the production costs of the ceremony, which includes stage design, live broadcasting, talent booking, and digital content creation. The event is also tied to the broader MTV Entertainment Studios production ecosystem, which works with brands on integrated marketing campaigns that extend beyond the live show. For financial details on ViacomCBS parent company Paramount Global's event and media operations, see the company's investor relations page paramount.com/investors. Sponsorship deals are typically structured as multi-year agreements that include on-air integrations, digital activations, and brand presence in the official awards show app.
How to Watch the MTV Awards and Where to Find Official Coverage
The MTV Video Music Awards are broadcast live on the MTV cable network in the United States and are available for streaming on Paramount+, the flagship streaming service of Paramount Global. International audiences can watch localized versions of the ceremony on MTV channels operated by Paramount's international subsidiaries, with streaming options varying by region. The official MTV website and mobile app provide live streaming, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content, and the show is also archived for on-demand viewing after the broadcast concludes.
Viewership data for the MTV Video Music Awards is reported by Nielsen in the United States and by similar measurement partners in international markets. The ceremony consistently ranks among the most-watched music awards shows on television, with streaming viewership on Paramount+ contributing to overall audience numbers. For broader context on the media and entertainment industry's shift toward hybrid broadcast and streaming models, see the latest analysis from Forbes forbes.com. The official MTV Video Music Awards page on MTV.com serves as the central hub for nominees, performers, and real-time updates during the live broadcast.