Nominees announced for MTV Awards

R&B superstar Beyonce Knowles will return to the UK to perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards, the organisers have announced.

Beyonce, 27, has also been nominated in the Ultimate Urban category of the awards, taking place in Liverpool in November.

The remaining performing artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Confirmation of Beyonce's appearance at the ceremony came as MTV revealed that Britney Spears, Coldplay and Welsh soul singer Duffy lead the award nominations.

Each have each been shortlisted in three categories, including the Album of the Year.

Amy Winehouse and X-Factor winner Leona Lewis have been nominated for the Act of 2008 award.

Richard Godfrey, senior vice president of MTV and executive producer of the awards, said: "We are extremely pleased that Beyonce is returning to the MTV Europe Music Awards and will once again wow the audience with what promises to be a show-stopping performance.

"I am confident that when we reveal the final acts to perform, the bill will live up to our promise that the MTV Europe Music Awards will absolutely be the best gig in Europe this year."

Beyonce achieved fame as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, the biggest selling girl band of all time.

Her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, won her five Grammy nominations. The remaining list of nominations includes previous MTV Europe winners Foo Fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars, Rihanna and Tokio Hotel as well as new acts Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus.

Mr Godfrey added: "Alongside such superstars as Beyonce, Pink and Britney, MTV viewers have recognised the massive talent of bands such as The Cure, Greenday and the Foo Fighters as well as new artists Katy Perry, Duffy and Jonas Brothers.

"For the fifteenth successive year the MTV Europe Music Awards will not only feature performances from some of the biggest names in music today but also this year's breakthrough artists."

The awards, which are broadcast on 19 channels across Europe, the US and Asia, reach a total television audience of over 30 million people and will take place at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on November 6.

Music fans have until Sunday, November 2, to vote for their favourites by visiting http://www.mtvema.com

Here are the nominations in full:

Album Of The Year:

Alicia Keys - As I Am

Britney Spears - Blackout

Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends

Duffy - Rockferry

Leona Lewis - Spirit

Headliner (Most impressive live band of the year at a festival or on tour) :

Foo Fighters

Linkin' Park

Metallica

The Cure

Tokio Hotel

Most Addictive Track:

Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Duffy - Mercy

Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl

Kid Rock - All Summer Long

Pink - So What

New Act:

Duffy

Jonas Brothers

Katy Perry

Miley Cyrus

One Republic

Act of 2008:

Amy Winehouse

Britney Spears

Coldplay

Leona Lewis

Rihanna

Ultimate Urban:

Alicia Keys

Beyonce

Chris Brown

Kanye West

Lil Wayne

Rock Out:

30 Seconds to Mars

Linkin' Park

Metallica

Paramore

Slipknot

The other categories are the Regional Award, the local artist as voted by MTV viewers in each territory; Europe's Favourite, where the finalists from Best Regional Award go head to head; and the Video Star to be decided by MTV.

There are 40 nominations for the Best Act Ever, the act - new, established or legendary - that fans love the most, including the Beatles, Madonna and Take That.