The tone was set already when the first prize of the evening, in the category of best collaboration, was awarded. To deafening applause, Taylor Swift entered the stage together with Post Malone to receive the statuette. Swift took the opportunity to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack, since the gala was held on the anniversary.
It's the most important thing today, everything that happens here tonight is overshadowed by it, said Swift.
Then she took home seven more prizes, including best artist, best pop, and best video.
Perry received honorary award
The star-studded gala was led by Megan Thee Stallion, who was accompanied on stage by a long list of famous names. Eminem kicked off the show with several hits, followed by, among others, Chapell Roan, Shawn Mendes, Benson Boon, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Katy Perry received the Video Vanguard Award and performed a 10-minute medley of her most famous songs in an advanced stage show that began with a flying Perry.
Living snake
The MTV gala celebrated its 40th anniversary, and throughout the evening, clips from memorable moments from previous galas were shown.
After a video clip from Britney Spears' iconic performance from 2001, when she had a living python on stage, a nervous Megan Thee Stallion appeared with her own reptile draped over her shoulders.
Okay, that's enough, can someone take the snake, she said after just a few seconds.
"Don't forget to vote"
Taylor Swift had previously won 23 VMA prizes – and is now up to a total of 30. This means that she now shares the top spot with Beyoncé, who previously held the record as the artist who has won the most prizes ever.
However, Swift leads the league overall – she is the solo artist who has won the most prizes, since five of Beyoncé's prizes were awarded to her as a member of the group Destiny's Child.
When Swift received the prize for best video, which she won for the third year in a row, she thanked her fans who had voted for the winner.
And if you're over 18, don't forget to register to vote in something else that's very important happening soon, Swift added – who had just the day before publicly endorsed the Democrats' Kamala Harris ahead of the autumn election.
Beyoncé was nominated in three categories this year, but didn't take home a single one.
Best collaboration: Taylor Swift and Post Malone
Best artist: Taylor Swift
Best pop: Taylor Swift
Best song: Sabrina Carpenter
Best new artist: Chapell Roan
Best R&B: Sza
Best hip-hop: Eminem
Best Afrobeats: Tyla
Best Latin: Anitta
Best rock: Lenny Kravitz
