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The VMAs Are Returning To Barclays Center — And Hitting All Five Boroughs In New York City

The 2020 fun kicks off on Sunday, August 30

UPDATE (8/8/20, 1:07 p.m. ET): The 2020 VMAs will no longer be held at Barclays Center. Find a statement from MTV and Barclays Center spokespeople below, in italics. Original post follows.

The 2020 VMAs will be held on Sunday, August 30 and pay homage to the incredible resiliency of New York with several outdoor performances around the city with limited or no audience, adhering to all state and city guidelines. In close consultation with state and local health officials‎, it became clear at this time that outdoor performances with limited or no audience would be more feasible and safer than an indoor event. The VMAs will highlight the boroughs in an exciting show and return to Barclays Center in 2021. MTV will continue to work closely with the Department of Health, state and local officials, the medical community, and key stakeholders to ensure the safety of all involved.

It's 2020, and the Moon Person is once again touching down in New York City.

Yes, this year's MTV VMAs will take place at the Barclays Center on Sunday, August 30, MTV announced today (June 29), aided by a quick shout-out from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at his live video briefing. It's the first time the show has hit the iconic Downtown Brooklyn venue since 2013. But this time, the action isn't contained just to the arena, or even the borough in which it sits.

For the 2020 show, the VMAs are going wide, featuring performances from various iconic locations throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, to honor the spirit and resilience of New York.

The 2020 VMAs will be the first event to take place at Barclays Center since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city. Of course, the virus is still very real, which means an added emphasis and focus on safety. The governor's announcement came with the note of "limited or no audience."

"Show producers alongside Barclays Center management have been working closely with state and local officials to implement best practices for everyone involved," according to a statement. "Among the measures all parties involved have aligned on include extensive social distancing procedures, meaningful capacity limitations and the virtualization of components where possible."

The 2013 show saw a redesigned Moon Person — courtesy of Brooklyn artist Kaws — as well as a entirely Moon Person-centric stage. Seven years later, the 2020 VMAs are shaping up to be a sprawling celebration across some of the biggest landmarks in the Big Apple.

More information will be available as the show date approaches. In the meantime, after a year in New Jersey, welcome (back) to NYC, VMAs.

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