MTV VMAs will likely take place this August without an audience in attendance

Music
30 Jun 20

Virus cases are currently surging across the US, which has the highest number of cases in the world.

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) 2020 are scheduled to go ahead in New York in August, with "limited or no audience" in attendance at the show.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed yesterday that MTV have been given permission to proceed with their annual awards ceremony plans, despite uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, the edition will take place at the Barclays Center on Sunday, August 30 - most likely without an audience or with a small crowd.

“Show producers, alongside Barclays Center management, have been working closely with state and local officials to implement best practices for everyone involved,” an MTV statement reads.

“Among the measures all parties involved have aligned on include extensive social distancing procedures, meaningful capacity limitations and the virtualisation of components where possible.”

MTV have also confirmed that they intend on featuring live performances from all five boroughs of New York City this year to “honour the spirit and resilience” of the city.

The 2020 VMAs will be the first event hosted at the Barclays Center since COVID-19 made New York the epicentre of the virus in May.

The BRIT Awards announced yesterday that they had pushed next year's awards ceremony from February 2021 to May 2021 as a result of the virus outbreak.