VMAs: Lil Wayne, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini Among Performers at 2023 Awards Show

Lil Wayne, Doja Cat and Kelsea Ballerini are among the performers set to hit the stage at MTV’s Video Music Awards on Sept. 12.

Anitta and Tomorrow X Together also will perform at the show, joining previously announced musical artists Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin and Stray Kids.

For Lil Wayne, this will mark his first performance at the VMAs for the first time in more than a decade. He will perform his new single “Kat Food,” which drops Friday, live for the first time. He also is a nominee this year, competing in the category of best hip-hop, which he won in 2008.

Doja Cat returns to the VMA stage after hosting and performing “Been Like This” and “You Right” in 2021. She’s also up for five VMAs, including video of the year and artist of the year.

Ballerini will give a world premiere performance off the expanded version of her EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (for Good). This will mark her first VMA performance.

Anitta will perform a medley of hits from her latest release, Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story. She made her VMA debut last year, where she also became the first Brazilian to take home a Moon Person trophy. Anitta is aiming for a repeat win in the best Latin category this year.

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will hit the stage with Anitta to debut a new single. The group is also up for best K-pop and push performance of the year.

MTV said additional performers will be announced soon. 

Also as previously announced, Shakira will receive the Video Vanguard Award and perform at the show.

Taylor Swift leads the nominees with a total of eight mentions, followed by SZA with six; Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Smith with five each; and Blackpink, Diddy and Shakira with four each.

The 2023 VMAs will air live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center at 8 p.m. ET (delayed PT) on Sept. 12. Awards are voted on by fans.

The show is executive produced by Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic, with Barb Bialkowski serving as co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba are the executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is the executive in charge of celebrity talent, and Lisa Lauricella is the music talent executive.