MTV Europe Music Awards cancelled due to Israel-Hamas war

The awards ceremony was scheduled to take place in Paris on 5 November

Paramount Global has cancelled the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) due to the current “volatility of world events”.

The annual ceremony was scheduled to take place in Paris on 5 November with Ozuna, Renée Rapp and Thirty Second to Mars among the performers.

“The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement also said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.”

MTV said the EMAs would return in November 2024. They have been held annually since 1994.

France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The Palace of Versailles and three airports were evacuated for security reasons and temporarily closed on Wednesday (18 October). The incidents were the latest in a series of evacuations around France in the past five days.

Taylor Swift at the 2022 MTV EMAs (Getty Imges for MTV)

Last week, the country’s interior minister ordered local authorities to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid a rise in antisemitic acts since the Israel-Hamas conflict intensified.

7,000 soldiers have been added to the 3,000 already in French streets. They are tasked with guarding Jewish places of worship, schools, train stations and other sensitive areas.

Taylor Swift was the big winner at last year’s EMAs in Dusseldorf, Germany, collecting four trophies including for best artist, best video and best longform video.

Swift was again this year’s top nominee with seven, with Olivia Rodrigo and SZA tied for second with six apiece.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press