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Taylor Swift wins big at the MTV EMAs and Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne

The 30th anniversary of the ceremony was held at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena last night. Big winners include Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyla.

Taylor Swift came out on top at the 2024 MTV EMAs on Sunday, walking away with Best Artist, Best US Act, Best Live Act and Best Video for 'Fortnight' (featuring Post Malone).

Swift, who is finishing up her Eras tour on the other side of the Atlantic, thanked the fans for the bounty of prizes via video message.

Swift said of her wins: “Thank you so much for these amazing awards. The fact that you’ve honoured the tour, everything that’s happened with the album this year, the video, it’s just unbelievable. I have to thank you so much to Post Malone for being the most amazing co-star possible in the ‘Fortnight’ music video, Rodrigo Prieto my amazing DP. The fans for voting on this. You’re the reason any great thing happens to me and I know it every single day. I’m so thankful for it, this is just so exciting and so wonderful. I had to best time touring Europe this summer, so it’s just wonderful for you to do this.”

The UK show, which took place this year at the Co-op Live in Manchester, opened with an acrobatic Benson Boone suspended in the air on a gold grand piano performing his viral hit 'Beautiful Things' and latest release 'Slow it Down'. Boone also accepted his first EMA for Best New Act.

South African newcomer Tyla gave Swift a run for her money picking up three awards for Best Afrobeats, Best R&B and Best African Act. Tyla performed her smash hit 'Water' for the EMA audience, flanked by a host of dancers, as well as singing energetic new track 'Push 2 Start'.

Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter picked up the honours for Best Song for her hit 'Espresso'; Ariana Grande was crowned Best Pop Act; Eminem took away Best Hip Hop Act, beating Kendrick Lamar; and bafflingly, Best Alternative Act went to Imagine Dragons instead of Hozier, Fontaines D.C. and Lana Del Rey.

British singer Rita Ora, who hosted the show, paid tribute to former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died last month after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires.

Ora had a close relationship with the singer and the pair recorded a song together in 2018, 'For You (Fifty Shades Freed)'. She addressed the audience saying, “I want to take a moment to remember someone. Liam Payne was one of the kindest people I knew.” Her voice broke as she asked the crowd to take a moment to remember Liam saying: “He had the biggest heart and he left such a mark on this world.”

Hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes was awarded the EMAs global icon award from British rapper Little Simz, who won Best UK & Ireland Act, while UK duo Pet Shop Boys were honoured with the inaugural Pop Pioneers Award for their contribution to pop music.

Here is the list of the main winners at the 2024 MTV EMAs (winners in bold):

BEST SONG