Prudential Center sets stage for its 3rd MTV Video Music Awards this fall

Prudential Center is rolling out the red carpet for the return of MTV’s Video Music Awards this fall.

Scheduled for Sept. 12, the live show will honor the best music videos of the past year with performances, tributes and appearances from the industry’s biggest stars.

In a May 23 press release, MTV and Prudential Center said additional details will be revealed closer to the VMAs but promised a “fan-filled spectacle” with “show-stopping surprises and epic performances.”

For the Newark sports and entertainment arena, this year will mark its third time hosting the show.

The VMAs made its debut at the Rock in 2019, with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco as emcee. In 2022, Prudential Center was also the venue of choice for the ceremony, which was jointly hosted by LL Cool J, Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj.

In addition to Paramount-owned MTV, the VMAs program airs across several Viacom and CBS networks – including BET, CT, Comedy Central, Logo, The CW, Pop, TVLand and VH1 – in more than 150 countries, reaching over 319 million households, according to the network.

Prudential Center President Jake Reynolds said, “We are incredibly proud to have the Prudential Center once again serve as the home for the 40th Annual MTV Video Music Awards. All eyes of the entertainment industry will be focused on Newark, New Jersey, as the brightest stars come together to perform at a marquee showcase within our world-class venue.

“This event allows us the opportunity to celebrate all genres of music for fans throughout the world, as we do all year round,” he added. “We appreciate the ability to continue our long-standing partnership with MTV and look forward to an amazing evening.”

Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events at Paramount and chief content officer, Music, for Paramount+, said, “We’re thrilled to be returning to the Prudential Center in Newark for this year’s VMAs! Celebrating one of our biggest nights in music with the Garden State’s incredible fans has been our goal since last year’s highly successful event.”

The 2022 VMAs saw Taylor Swift announce a new album and win the top award, while other big winners included Harry Styles, Lil Nas, Lizzo and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Newark at the crossroads

Sean Saadeh, executive vice president of entertainment, Prudential Center, said they’re “extremely excited” to welcome the event back to New Jersey.

“As Prudential Center continues to position itself as a top five venue in the world, we could not be more thankful for the strong relationship we have established with the entire VMAs’ team,” he said. “Last year’s show had some of the biggest superstars and legends hit the stage, and we can’t wait to see what is in store for this year!”

Over the past 15 years, the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment-operated property has been recognized as one of the world’s premier options for music, sports and entertainment events, hosting over 2,500 programs and welcoming more than 20 million guests.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka cheered the news, saying, “Awarding Newark as host city for the 2023 VMAs echoes not only our selection by MTV in 2022 and 2019, but also reverberates our city’s historic vibe as a hotbed of musical genius.”

“Starting with America’s first known composer in 1759, through the jazz explosion in the 1920s, and up to today’s full spectrum of genres from hip hop to opera, Newark has long served as America’s turntable for harmonic expression,” the mayor said. “The relevance of the Video Music Awards rising up today from the same city that registered the film and video industry’s first nitrocellulose patent is not lost on me as Newark continues to sit squarely at the crossroads of motion picture and music.”

Gov. Phil Murphy said the return of such a high-profile ceremony to the Prudential Center “testifies to New Jersey’s enduring standing” as a premier place for large-scale entertainment events.

“As the home of some of the most internationally renowned names in the music industry, New Jersey is proud to once again partner with Paramount to showcase an array of exciting performances to a global audience,” he said. “By hosting this highly anticipated spectacle, our state and local economies will also benefit from the thousands of visitors who will shop, dine, and stay in our local communities.”