Shawn Mendes was voted Best Artist at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, which were handed out Sunday in Seville, Spain.
The 21-year-old Canadian singer, who is currently on tour in Australia, accepted the award in a pre-recorded video message. He thanked fans for voting and added: “I love you so much, always.”
Mendes previously won Best Artist at the EMAs in 2017.
After being voted Best Canadian Act every year since 2016, Mendes lost to fellow Ontario singer Johnny Orlando (who was among the foreign artists paraded on stage during the broadcast).
can i join the band? @NCTsmtown_127 #MTVEMA pic.twitter.com/xfM4qBISjB
— Johnny Orlando (@johnnyorlando) November 3, 2019
Mendes also lost in the other four categories in which he was nominated. Best Pop went to Halsey and Biggest Fans was awarded to BTS. Señorita,” his collaboration with Camila Cabello lost both Best Song (to “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish) and Best Collaboration (to “Con Altura” by Rosalía and J Balvin ft. El Guincho).
In all, Mendes has collected 11 EMAs since 2015.
Orlando returned to the stage in the show's final moments to co-present the award for Best Video. Winner Taylor Swift (for "ME!" featuring Brendon Urie) accepted via a pre-taped video message in which she thanked Urie and director Dave Meyers. Swift, who also won Best U.S. Act, also credited fans for voting for her. "You make my life so, so much fun," she said.
Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images
Sunday’s first winner was Halsey, who picked up Best Pop. “I feel so lucky to be making pop music in a time where pop music is so special,” she said, “where it’s so many genres all blended together.”
Earlier, Halsey accepted the Best Look award on the red carpet.
The EMA for Best Hip Hop went to Nicki Minaj and Best New was awarded to Eilish. Both accepted via video messages.
Of course, it was all about the performances.
The show opened with Dua Lipa performing her new single “Don’t Start Now.” Then Mabel – who was born in Spain – took the stage to do her hit “Don’t Call Me.”
Niall Horan strapped a guitar on for a performance of “Nice To Meet Ya” that ended with a seductive close-up.
Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
In a performance taped Saturday night in Seville’s historic Plaza de España, Green Day rocked their new single “Father Of All…” and 1994’s “Basket Case.”
Not surprisingly, Green Day won Best Rock. Billie Joe Armstrong dedicated the award “to my boys in SWMRS back home” – referring to his son Joey Armstrong’s punk band. (Frontman Max Becker is recovering from injuries sustained in a vehicle crash last week.)
Halsey gave a colourful and fiery performance of “Graveyard” and Ava Max took the stage to do “Sweet but Psycho.” K-pop group NCT 127 had a blast with “Highway to Heaven.”
The EMAs honoured Liam Gallagher with the first ever Rock Icon award, presented by Halsey.
“I want to congratulate MTV for recognizing my brilliance,” Gallagher said. “Thanks for the award. I’ll wear it well.” The former Oasis singer returned to the stage to close the show with his song "Once" and the Oasis classic "Wonderwall."
Dave J Hogan / Getty Images
The MTV EMAs, hosted by Becky G, will be broadcast on MTV Canada on Sunday at 9 pm EST.
Check out all the winners below:
Best Video
Ariana Grande - "thank u, next"
Billie Eilish - "Bad guy"
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus - "Old Town Road" (Remix)
Rosalía, J Balvin ft. El Guincho - "Con Altura"
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco - "ME!" WINNER
Best Artist
Ariana Grande
J Balvin
Miley Cyrus
Shawn Mendes WINNER
Taylor Swift
Best Song
Ariana Grande - "7 Rings"
Billie Eilish - "Bad Guy” WINNER
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus - "Old Town Road" (Remix)
Post Malone, Swae Lee - "Sunflower"
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello - "Señorita"
Best Collaboration
BTS, Halsey - "Boy With Luv"
Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus - "Old Town Road" (Remix)
Mark Ronson, Miley Cyrus - "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart"
Rosalía, J Balvin ft. El Guincho - "Con Altura” WINNER
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello - "Señorita"
The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha - "Call You Mine"
Best New
Ava Max
Billie Eilish WINNER
Lewis Capaldi
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Mabel
Best Pop
Ariana Grande
Becky G
Camila Cabello
Halsey WINNER
Jonas Brothers
Shawn Mendes
Best Live
Ariana Grande
BTS WINNER
Ed Sheeran
P!NK
Travis Scott
Best Rock
Green Day WINNER
Imagine Dragons
Liam Gallagher
Panic! At The Disco
The 1975
Best Hip-Hop
21 Savage
Cardi B
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj WINNER
Travis Scott
Best Alternative
FKA Twigs WINNER
Lana Del Rey
Solange
twenty one pilots
Vampire Weekend
Best Electronic
Calvin Harris
DJ Snake
Marshmello
Martin Garrix WINNER
The Chainsmokers
Best Look
Halsey WINNER
J Balvin
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Rosalía
Biggest Fans
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
BTS WINNER
Shawn Mendes
Taylor Swift
Best Push
Ava Max WINNER
Billie Eilish
CNCO
H.E.R.
Jade Bird
Juice WRLD
Kiana Ledé
Lauv
Lewis Capaldi
Lizzo
Mabel
Rosalía
Best World Stage
Bebe Rexha - Isle of MTV Malta 2019
Hailee Steinfeld - Isle of MTV Malta 2018
Muse - Bilbao Spain 2018 WINNER
The 1975 - Lollapalooza Paris Festival 2019
twenty one pilots - Lollapalooza Paris Festival 2019
Best Canadian Act
Alessia Cara
Carly Rae Jepsen
Avril Lavigne
Shawn Mendes
Johnny Orlando WINNER
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