--- description: With an impressively star-studded line-up, expect the show to deliver over-the-top performances and wild antics title: VMAs 2014: What to Expect, Who's Performing, Who Will Win image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3405a931ece8518/69869eacadae44708d5446f6/453096276.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # VMAs 2014: What to Expect (When You're Expecting Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and More) by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 21, 2014 4:25 PM CUT  Beyonce performs during the "On The Run Tour Beyonce performs during the "On The Run TourLarry Busacca/PW—Getty by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 21, 2014 4:25 PM CUT Much like Paul Revere riding his horse through town, we’re here to tell you: the VMAs are coming. Yes, [the show](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/26/the-vmas-the-best-and-worst/?iid=ent-main-lead "undefined") that brought the world [Miley Cyrus twerking](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/26/4-reasons-youre-still-hearing-about-miley-cyrus-vmas-performance/ "undefined") on [Robin Thicke](http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/13/robin-thicke-dishes-on-mileys-vma-performance/ "undefined") in a Beetlejuice costume, an abbreviated NSYNC reunion, and [Lady Gaga dressed as SpongeBob ](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/26/the-vmas-the-best-and-worst/slide/lady-gaga-applause/ "undefined")SquareNun returns this Sunday, Aug. 24 at 9 p.m. ET, with scheduled performances by **Taylor Swift**, **Nicki Minaj**, **Iggy Azalea** and, of course, **Beyoncé**, who scored eight nominations. Hot on Queen Bey’s high-scoring heels are **Eminem** and newcomer Azalea, who racked up seven nods apiece. _Pretty Little Liars_ star and country singer [**Lucy Hale**](time.com/2814347/lucy-hale-road-between-pretty-little-liars-interview/ "undefined")will be hosting the pre-show, but in keeping with tradition, the show itself will have no host, preferring the likable chaos of a steady stream of surprise guests and unlikely pairings. (What would you expect from a show that announced its nominees via Snapchat?) Non-surprise guest presenters include **Lorde, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo,** _Vampire Diaries_ star **Nina Dobrev** and cast members from _Orange is the New Black_. You can check out a [full list of the nominees here](http://time.com/3001470/vma-nominations-beyonce/ "undefined"), but the real reason to watch the VMAs is to see if any twerking teddy bears appear to [shock the children of A-list celebs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r92%5F5tvX9B8 "undefined") and send people running to [register complaints to the FCC](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/09/13/the-people-vs-miley-cyrus-fcc-complaints-aired/ "undefined") (probably while shrieking, “The children! The children! Will no one think of the children?”). Here’s the list of artists performing at this years VMAs: **Beyoncé** With eight noms, plus a special crowning — the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which puts her in such fine company as Justin Timberlake, Madonna and the Beastie Boys — don’t be surprised if Bey walks away with an armful of Moonmen. **Five Seconds of Summer** The boy band is in the house to support their Artist to Watch nomination — and to give the tweens something to scream about that’s actually in their age demographic. Their song choice has yet to be announced, but a medley of their greatest hits seems likely. **Maroon 5** It’s the first time the band, fronted by [Sexiest-Man-Alive](http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20315920%5F20757452,00.html "undefined") Adam Levine, have performed on the awards show. They will be performing their latest hit, “Maps.” **Taylor Swift** T. Swift will be debuting the first live performance of her new single, “Shake It Off.” Fingers crossed some genius will mash it up live with the award-nominated (!!!) DJ Snake and Lil John’s “Turn Down For What.” Shake it off for what, anyone? **Charli XCX** The Artist to Watch nominee is slated to perform “Boom Clap,” her hit off _The Fault in Our Stars_ soundtrack, which will likely appeal to the show’s teen demographic. No word whether she will team up with Iggy Azalea for their track “Fancy,” which is nominated for Best Pop Video. **Sam Smith** Smith is slated to perform “Stay With Me,” but even _he_ is probably slightly sick of the Best Male Video-nominated track at this point, so perhaps he’ll just take the stage to rant about how [“Tinder is ruining romance.”](http://radio.com/2014/08/19/sam-smith-tinder-grindr-ruining-romance/ "undefined") **Ariane Grande** The _My Everything_ singer will be performing her follow-up hit “Break Free,” but with Iggy Azalea in the house and multiple nominations on the table, a performance of “Problem” wouldn’t come as a surprise: **Nicki Minaj** Minaj is the evening’s triple threat: She’ll be giving Miley Cyrus a run for her money in the racy department by performing her new track “Anaconda.” (No word on whether Drake will appear on stage with her as he did in the [NSFW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs "undefined") video.) She’ll also team up with Ariana Grande and Jessie J for a show-opening performance of their song [“Bang Bang](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YswhUHH6Ufc "undefined").”Additionally, she’s slated to perform with **Usher** on his track[ “She Came To Give It To You.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiRSkLzoMaM "undefined") Will she even have _time_ to throw shade at Iggy Azalea? **Fifth Harmony** Fans of _The X Factor_ know this girl group, who are quickly on the rise with their latest single “Boss.” Given that it’s their most popular tune to date, expect the quintet to perform the female-empowerment anthem. **Iggy Azalea** Whether or not she ends up joining Ariana Grande for a rendition of “Problem,” Azalea is confirmed as a performer: she’ll be taking the stage with Rita Ora to perform their new single “Black Widow.” **MORE**: [9 Under the Radar Artists You Should Be Listening to Right Now](http://time.com/3083228/best-under-the-radar-bands/ "undefined") **MORE**: [Watch Taylor Swift Show Off Her Dance Moves in New ‘Shake It Off’ Video](http://time.com/3138525/taylor-swift-shake-it-off-1989/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3145900/vmas-2014-performances-what-to-expect/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3145900/vmas-2014-performances-what-to-expect/"},"headline":"VMAs 2014: What to Expect (When You're Expecting Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and More)","datePublished":"2014-08-21T16:25:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:51:32.567Z","description":"With an impressively star-studded line-up, expect the show to deliver over-the-top performances and wild antics","url":"https://time.com/3145900/vmas-2014-performances-what-to-expect/","keywords":["Television","Music","Beyonce","Taylor Swift","Iggy Azalea","vmas","mtv vmas"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3405a931ece8518/69869eacadae44708d5446f6/453096276.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3405a931ece8518/69869eacadae44708d5446f6/453096276.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"\"On The Run Tour: Beyonce And Jay-Z\" - Pasadena","caption":"\"On The Run Tour: Beyonce And Jay-Z\" - Pasadena","creditText":"Larry Busacca/PW—Getty","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3145900/vmas-2014-performances-what-to-expect/","name":"VMAs 2014: What to Expect (When You're Expecting Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and More)"}}]}] ```