MTV VMA awards: What time, what channel, who's presenting, who's performing

Hold on to your streaming device, the VMAs are only hours away.

For the terminally hip and fatally cool among us (which you are not if you call yourself that, so …) it's the equivalent of Christmas, the feud between Kanye and Taylor and a new drop from Queen Bey, herself, all right there on Spotify.

Much of the talk in the run-up to MTV's annual award ceremony/fight is centering on Britney Spears and her next "comeback." The last one on the 2007 show didn't go over so well, but Spears is in a better place now (her words). Add to that, the incredible coincidence that she released a new album ("Glory") on Friday and you can expect something good.

Beyonce may get tired going up and down the steps to receive awards – she's nominated for 11 this year. And, hello, British singer Adele is up for eight awards.

There is no host, but a couple of comedians will keep the night rolling, Rihanna is being honored with the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award -- at 28.

Here's the particulars of Sunday's show.

What time is the show?

The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards air live on Sunday, with red carpet arrivals beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET; a pre-show beginning at 8 p.m. ET hosted by DJ Khaled,  and the main event at 9 p.m. ET. 

Where can I watch it on TV?

The show airs live on MTV from Madison Square Garden (there is a tape delay for the West Coast, so it airs at 9 p.m. local time there.) You can watch the show on the MTV and MTV 2 networks. Check with your local TV provider for channel numbers.

What other platforms can I catch it on?

You can watch the show through MTV's app – with cable authentication. Also, a livestream starts at 7 p.m. Sunday. 

Who is hosting?

There is no host, per se, but comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are being called the masters of ceremonies. They will give a running commentary on the show as their alter egos, The Shamester and Lizard Sheeple.

Who will be handing out the little Moonman trophies?

All kinds of folks are set to hand out the awards. Alecia  Keys, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jaden Smith, Shameik Moore, Fifth Harmony, Tove Lo and Jimmy Fallon, to name a few. Also, the Final Five – the 2016 U.S. Women's Olympic team – along with Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps, have been asked to present awards.   

Who is scheduled to perform?

It will be a treat for music fans, as Spears, Rihanna – who is being awarded the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award  –  Ariana Grande with Nicki Minaj, the rapper Future, Nick Jonas, The Chainsmokers along with Halsey and Ty Dolla $ign are all expected to perform. And, if history teaches us anything, we can expect a surprise performance by Beyonce. At  least that's the rumor. 

In memoriam

It seems like this section of the show, if there is one, could last as long as the awards ceremony. We've lost a lot of incredible talent this year – David Bowie, Prince and Glenn Frey among them.

Do I need to prep?

The show is not going to watch itself. It's always good to be prepared. Watch these videos so you can impress your friends with comments like, "Her emotional range is incredible," or "He's really grown vocally since the incident with the pet monkey."

Beyoncé: "Formation" 

Adele: "Hello" 

Drake: "Hotline Bling"

Justin Bieber: "Sorry" 

Kanye West: "Famous" 

Most talked about moment?

At this event, that's a tough one, but odds are it will somehow be connected to Kanye West. West, in addition to potentially grabbing the mic from any number of people, has been given 4 minutes of "free" stage time to do with as he pleases. What could go wrong with that?

As we said earlier, there is a lot of buzz around Britney Spears' and Rihanna's performances.

How can I participate in the show?

Other than playing air guitar or singing into your hairbrush in front of a mirror, there's only one way – by voting. You still have time to vote for the "Best New Artist." Remember, they are our future. Click here to vote.

Who is up for what? 

Here is the list of nominees for Sunday's awards:

Video Of The Year

• Adele — "Hello"

• Beyoncé — "Formation"

• Drake — "Hotline Bling"

• Justin Bieber — "Sorry"

• Kanye West —  "Famous"

Best Female Video

• Adele — "Hello"

• Ariana Grande — "Into You"

• Beyoncé — "Hold Up"

• Rihanna featuring Drake — "Work" (short version)

• Sia — "Cheap Thrills"

Best Male Video

• Bryson Tiller — "Don't"

• Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna — "This Is What You Came For"

• Drake — "Hotline Bling"

• Kanye West — "Famous"

• The Weeknd — "Can't Feel My Face"

Breakthrough Long Form Video

• Florence + The Machine — "The Odyssey"

• Beyoncé — "Lemonade"

• Justin Bieber — "PURPOSE: The Movement"

• Chris Brown — "Royalty"

• Troye Sivan — "Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy"

Best Pop Video

• Adele — "Hello"

• Alessia Cara — "Wild Things"

• Ariana Grande — "Into You"

• Beyoncé — "Formation"

• Justin Bieber — "Sorry"

Best Hip Hop Video

• 2 Chainz — "Watch Out"

• Bryson Tiller — "Don't"

• Chance The Rapper featuring Saba — "Angels"

• Desiigner — "Panda"

• Drake — "Hotline Bling"

Best Electronic Video

• 99 Souls featuring Destiny's Child & Brandy — "The Girl Is Mine"

• Afrojack — "SummerThing!"

• Calvin Harris & Disciples — "How Deep Is Your Love"

• The Chainsmokers featuring Daya — "Don't Let Me Down"

• Mike Posner — "I Took A Pill In Ibiza"

Best Rock Video

• All Time Low — "Missing You"

• Coldplay — "Adventure Of A Lifetime"

• Fall Out Boy featuring Demi Lovato — "Irresistible"

• Panic! At The Disco — "Victorious"

• twenty one pilots — "Heathens"

Best Collaboration

• Ariana Grande featuring Lil Wayne — "Let Me Love You"

• Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar — "Freedom"

• Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna — "This Is What You Came For"

• Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign — "Work From Home"

• Rihanna featuring Drake — "Work" (short version)

Best New Artist

• Bryson Tiller

• Desiigner

• DNCE

• Lukas Graham

• Zara Larsson

Best Art Direction

• Adele — "Hello" (Production Designer: Colombe Raby)

• Beyoncé — "Hold Up" (Production Designer: Jason Hougaard)

• David Bowie — "Blackstar" (Production Designer: Jan Houllevigue)

• Drake — "Hotline Bling" (Production Designer: Jeremy MacFarlane)

• Fergie — "M.I.L.F. $" (Production Designer: Alexander Delgado)

Best Cinematography

• Adele — "Hello" (Cinematographer: André Turpin)

• Alesso — "I Wanna Know" (Cinematographer: Corey Jennings)

• Ariana Grande — "Into You" (Cinematographer: Paul Laufer)

• Beyoncé — "Formation" (Cinematographer: Malik Sayeed)

• David Bowie — "Lazarus" (Cinematographer: Crille Forsberg)

Best Choreography

• Beyoncé — "Formation" (Choreographer: Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, Dana Foglia)

• Beyoncé — "Sorry" (Choreographer: Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, Dana Foglia, Anthony Burrell, Beyoncé Knowles Carter)

• FKA Twigs — "M3LL155X" (Choreographers: Aaron Sillis, Benjamin Milan, Kenrick Sandy and FKA twigs)

• Florence + The Machine — "Delilah" (Choreographer: Holly Blakey)

• Missy Elliott featuring Pharrell — "WTF (Where They From)" (Choreographer: Hi-Hat)

Best Direction

• Adele — "Hello" (Director: Xavier Dolan)

• Beyoncé — "Formation" (Director: Melina Matsoukas)

• Coldplay — "Up&Up" (Director: Vania Heymann, Gal Muggia)

• David Bowie — "Lazarus" (Director: Johan Renck)

• Tame Impala — "The Less I Know The Better" (Director: Canada)

Best Editing

Adele — "Hello" (Editor: Xavier Dolan)

• Ariana Grande — "Into You" (Editor: Hannah Lux Davis)

• Beyoncé — "Formation" (Editor: Jeff Selis)

• David Bowie — "Lazarus" (Editor: Johan Söderberg)

• Fergie — "M.I.L.F. $" (Editor: Vinnie Hobbs)

Best Visual Effects

• Adele — "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" (VFX Editor: Jonathan Box, MPC)

• Coldplay — "Up&Up" (VFX Editor: Vania Heymann)

• FKA Twigs — "M3LL155X" (VFX Editors: Lewis Saunders and Electric Theatre Collective)

• The Weeknd — "Can't Feel My Face" (VFX Editor: Bryan Smaller)

• Zayn — "PILLOWTALK" (VFX Editor: David Smith)

Song of the Summer

• Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna — "This Is What You Came For"

• Drake — "One Dance"

• Fifth Harmony featuring Fetty Wap — "All In My Head"

• Justin Timberlake — "Can't Stop The Feeling"

• Kent Jones — "Don't Mind"

• Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber — "Cold Water"

• Nick Jonas featuring Ty Dolla $ign — "Bacon"

• Selena Gomez — "Kill 'Em With Kindness"

• Sia — "Cheap Thrills"

• The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey — "Closer"

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