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5 Things You Should Know About the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Celebrity Seating Chart

3 minute read

Just like those days on the school bus, where you sit in this world matters and the MTV Video Music Awards is no exception. While we’ve already learned that most celebs request their seat mates, and sometimes switch seats (after all, awards ceremonies are that much more fun when you’re sitting with a pal) and that the commonly requested seat buddy is none other than the high master of the squad herself, Taylor Swift, this year’s show is already shaping up to be quite the event.

With so many new releases, performances, and of course, drama, at an all-time high this year, the seating chart needs to be, in the words of the youths, popping — and a video revealing the seating chart for the event confirms that the 2016 VMAs will definitely be one to remember.

It’s going to be an Olympian audience: According to the footage released, the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, will be sitting behind Alicia Keys and Nick Jonas and adjacent to trap god, Future. Meanwhile, the Final Five (that is, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian) will also be attending and sitting together. It looks like Simone has an aisle seat, so stay tuned for some possible action from Team USA’s finest.

Kimye will be holding court in the front row: Kanye West, no stranger to multiple buzzy moments at the VMAs, will be front and center and ready for actions alongside wife Kim Kardashian West. Seeing as how the VMAs are the stage that brought us the start of the Taylor Swift-Kimye feud, it’ll be interesting to see what goes down this year in the aftermath of the beef of our generation; especially given rumors that Kanye might get some stage time (if those prove not to be true, we know Mr. West has no problem taking things into his own hands.) Grab the popcorn and settle in, because you know when Kim and Kanye are involved, it’ll be a show to remember.

Taylor Swift’s name card hasn’t been spotted — yet: In the clip showing the seating chart, Swift’s name card is absent. While this isn’t necessarily an indicator that T. Swift is skipping out on the ceremony, it’s also worth noting that although she was eligible for a nomination for her videos for “Wildest Dreams” and “Out of the Woods,” the singer was snubbed by the nomination committee this year. Will Tay-Tay show up with Loki in tow on Sunday night to face Kimye? We’ll just have to tune in on Sunday night to find out.

Co-performers will be chummy for the night: Britney Spears, who’s set to make her big comeback on Sunday night with a performance at the ceremony, is seated by collaborator, Bay Area rapper G-Eazy (also of note: The Get Down‘s Jaden Smith is sitting a few seats over.) In another row, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande are sitting next to each other as well; the pair are slated to perform together at the show and previously collaborated on Jessie J’s 2014 hit, “Bang Bang.”

Pay attention to the aisle seats: Why else would you seat Desiigner on the end of an aisle? Other noted aisle seats occupiers include Tyga, Nick Cannon, the Final Five, Jaden Smith, Future, 2 Chainz, and of course, Rihanna, who’s set to receive the Vanguard Award this year.

Watch the full video of the seating chart coming to life below.

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Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com