Newark’s Prudential Center to Host 2022 MTV VMA Awards

By Spotlight Central . Photos courtesy of MTV

The eyes of the music world will be on Newark, NJ this Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022 when the city’s Prudential Center hosts the MTV Video Music Awards. The event takes place live at 8pm EDT inside Prudential Center’s arena — the home of the New Jersey Devils — and will also air on multiple television channels including MTV, The CW, BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV 2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, and VH1.

About hosting such a timely musical event here in the Garden State, Prudential Center’s Vice President of Sports Properties and Special Events Dylan Wanagiel remarks, “October will mark both the 15-year anniversary for Prudential Center and the 40-year anniversary for the New Jersey Devils. We could not think of a better kickoff to these milestone celebrations then welcoming back the VMAs, one of the most prestigious award shows in the world.”

Prior to the VMA ceremony on Sunday night, Prudential Center will host a 6:30 pm VMA Pre-Show featuring celebrity correspondent Tate McRae and Kraft Singles ® House DJ, Murda Beatz. Entertainment will be provided by singer/actress Dove Cameron and rappers Saucy Santana and Yung Gravy.

This year, the VMA Ceremony boasts 25 award categories including Video of the Year (presented by Burger King®), Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist (presented by EXTRA® Gum), in addition to three 2022 fan-decided social categories: Group of the Year, Song of the Summer, and Album of the Year.

Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, and Harry Styles lead the pack with the largest number of VMA nominations (8). They’re followed by Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Nas X (7), along with Billie Eilish (6). BTS, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Future, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd trail closely with five nominations apiece.

LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, and Jack Harlow will serve as emcees for the 8pm VMA show where they will introduce the evening’s star-studded lineup of performers, presenters, and winners.

Nicki Minaj will receive MTV’s coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and will perform live on the show. Red Hot Chili Peppers will receive the prestigious Global Icon Award and will also perform live at the ceremony.

Additional live performers will include Anitta (“Envolver”), Bad Bunny (TBA), J. Balvin (“Nivel de Perreo”), Blackpink (“Pink Venom”), Eminem and Snoop Dogg (“From the D 2 The LBC”), Kane Brown (“Grand”), Jack Harlow (TBA), Marshmello X Khalid (“Numb”), Lizzo (“2 Be Loved [Am I Ready]”), Måneskin (“Supermodel”), and Panic! at the Disco (“Middle of a Breakup”).

Coming out of a banner year in 2021–22, where along with an entire season of New Jersey Devils games it presented over 125 concerts, sporting events, and special programs, with the spotlight squarely focused on the VMAs, Newark’s Prudential Center is now a required destination for some of the biggest entertainers and performers in the world.

Notes Prudential Center’s Wanagiel, “Hosting the VMAs at Prudential Center helps cement our place as the North American home of K-Pop and a Northeastern hub for Latin shows and R&B acts, not to mention our focus on celebrating New Jersey music and bringing these acts to the public.”

As such, in addition to the VMAs, events in the 2022–23 line up of Prudential Center concerts include Seventeen’s “Be the Sun World Tour” on Sept. 6, 2022, Carlos Vives on Sept. 17, 2022, Mary J. Blige on Oct. 23, 2022, and Bruce Springsteen on Apr. 14, 2023. For info and/or tickets to these and other great Prudential Center events, please go to prucenter.com.