The VMAs, Back In NJ: See Who's Nominated For Big Night In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Some of music's biggest names are coming to New Jersey's biggest city once again for MTV's Video Music Awards. This year's VMAs mark a milestone for Madonna, and sees 26 new names on the ballot.

The award show is Sunday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern, live from the Prudential Center in downtown Newark. It will be simulcast on the CW Network as well.

MTV promises "show-stopping surprises, epic performances and a fan-filled audience." You can cast your vote in 22 categories and see all the nominees at vote.mtv.com.

Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Nas X lead this year’s nominations with seven nominations each.

This is the first VMAs nomination for Kendrick Lamar since 2018, according to MTV. His collaboration with Baby Keem, "family ties," earned them both a handful of nominations. His song "The Heart Part 5" is up for Video for Good as well as Best Visual Effects, and the track "N95" also got two nominations.

At last year's awards, Lil Nas X and Harlow premiered their collaboration "Industry Baby" for the first time at the Barclays Center in New York City. They're nominated for that song in six categories, as well as for Artist of the Year.

Doja Cat and Harry Styles each got six nominations. Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd all have five nominations.

Madonna is now the only artists with nominations in each of the VMAs' five decades, with a nomination for "MADAME X," MTV said.

First-time nominees include Baby Keem, GAYLE, Kacey Musgraves, and Måneskin; all had more than one nomination this year.

Nominations for other categories for social categories including “Group of the Year” and “Song of Summer” will be announced later, MTV said.

MTV set a milestone for itself in 2019, when it brought the VMAs to Newark – and New Jersey – for the first time. Performers that year included Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes and Lizzo. Read More: MTV To Hold Video Music Awards In Newark

While the event saw widespread fanfare, it was also the site of a protest for "clean water," spearheaded by local residents fed up over the city's lead water crisis. Read More: Protest For Clean Water Ignites Outside MTV Awards In Newark

The city has since made major progress on that front, with Vice President Kamala Harris coming to Newark in February to praise its progress combatting the contamination. Read More: Lead Pipes And Newark; Kamala Harris Returns To NJ To Praise City

Patch's Eric Kiefer contributed to this report.