Pop megastar Taylor Swift was the big winner at the annual MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday, picking up four trophies at the Manchester ceremony in England, which included a tribute to late singer Liam Payne.
Swift, who had led nominations with seven nods, won Best Artist, Best Video for her collaboration with Post Malone "Fortnight", Best Live, and Best U.S. Act. Currently in North America for her Eras tour, she thanked fans via a video message.
"The fact that you have honored the tour, everything that's happened with the album this year, the video, it's just unbelievable," Swift said, who released her latest album "The Tortured Poets Department" in April.
South African singer Tyla followed with three prizes: Best Afrobeats, Best R&B, and Best African Act.
Singer and third-time MTV EMAs show host Rita Ora led a tribute to late One Direction member Liam Payne, who died last month after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31.
"He was a big part of the MTV world and my world and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight," a visibly emotional Ora, who collaborated with Payne for the 2018 song "For You", said. "He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on this world."
The awards resumed after last year's Paris event was canceled shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war, in which Israel's military is fighting Hamas militants. Held in a different city each year, Sunday's show took place at Manchester's new Co-Op Live venue.
Featuring performances from Shawn Mendes, Raye, and the South African singer Tyla, this year was the first time the EMAs was held in Manchester – arguably England’s music capital – having previously traveled to Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, and Edinburgh, as well as three visits to London since it began in 1994.
Broadcast live to more than 150 countries across the world, the EMAs are watched closely by the music industry as they often give a hint of which artists are lined up for success at the Grammys.
The EMAs were the last in a week-long series of events in Manchester under the umbrella of MTV Music Week.
Other winners included Sabrina Carpenter, whose hit "Espresso" won Best Song, Ariana Grande who took the Best Oop award, and Eminem who triumphed in the Best Hip-hop category.
Best K-pop went to BTS member Jimin, Mexican singer Peso Pluma won Best Latin while Manchester native Liam Gallagher took Best Rock. U.S. singer Benson Boone won Best New category.
Other honourees included U.S. rapper Busta Rhymes, who performed a medley of his hits and received the Global Icon award, and Pop Pioneer Award recipients British Electro-Pop duo Pet Shop Boys, who closed the show.
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