MTV VMAs 2014 nominees and performers

Back in 2009, it was Kanye West's oh-so-rude Taylor Swift interruption. Two years later it was Beyone's baby bump. Last year, all eyes were on Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke's racy performance.

What will be this year's major must-talk-about-the-next-day VMAs moment?

There's plenty of potential contenders with Nicki Minaj performing (another "Anaconda" lap dance perhaps?) and Beyonce taking the stage amid reports that her marriage to Jay Z is on the rocks.

Beyonce also leads this year pack of nominees with eight nods, including video of the year for "Drunk in Love," featuring Jay Z. She's also receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a lifetime achievement honor also given to Madonna and Britney Spears.

But Beyonce isn't the only contender up for moonmen this Sunday. Rappers Iggy Azalea and Eminem are each nominated for seven awards. Otter nominees include OK Go, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams and Linkin Park.

Women, meanwhile, dominate this year's video of the year category. Pharrell Williams is the only male performer competing for that honor; he's nominated alongside Beyonce, Azalea's "Fancy," Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" and Sia's "Chandelier."

The two-and-a-half-hour show will get underway with Minaj, Ariana Grande and Jessie J performing their single "Bang Bang." Other performers include Usher, 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift and Sam Smith. Azeala will perform her single "Black Widow" with Rita Ora.

Presenters include Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Lorde, Taylor Schilling, Laverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, Dylan O'Brien, Nina Dobrev, Jason Derulo and Trey Songz.

The VMAs will air live Sunday from The Forum in Inglewood, California, starting 9 p.m. ET. A red carpet special will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

The 2014 nominees:

Video of the Year

Beyonce ft. Jay Z, "Drunk In Love"
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball"
Pharrell Williams, "Happy"
Sia, "Chandelier"

Best Hip-Hop Video

Childish Gambino, "3005"
Drake ft. Majid Jordan, "Hold On (We're Going Home)"
Eminem, "Berzerk" Kanye West, "Black Skinhead" Wiz Khalifa, "We Dem Boyz"

Best Male Video

Ed Sheeran ft. Pharrell Williams, "Sing"
Eminem ft. Rihanna, "The Monster"
John Legend, "All of Me"
Pharrell Williams, "Happy"
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"

Best Female Video

Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea, "Problem"
Beyonce, "Partition"
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J, "Dark Horse"
Lorde, "Royals"

Best Pop Video

Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea, "Problem"
Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc, "Wake Me Up"
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz, "Talk Dirty"
Pharrell Williams, "Happy"

Best Rock Video

Arctic Monkeys, "Do I Wanna Know?"
Black Keys, "Fever"
Imagine Dragons, "Demons"
Linkin Park, "Until It's Gone"
Lorde, "Royals"

Artist to Watch, Presented by Taco Bell

5 Seconds of Summer, "She Looks So Perfect"
Charli XCX, "Boom Clap"
Fifth Harmony, "Miss Movin' On"
Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"
Schoolboy Q, "Man of the Year"

Best Collaboration

Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea, "Problem"
Beyonce ft. Jay Z, "Drunk In Love"
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga, "Loyal"
Eminem ft. Rihanna, "The Monster"
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J, "Dark Horse"
Pitbull ft. Kesha, "Timber"

MTV Clubland Award

Calvin Harris, "Summer"
Disclosure, "Grab Her!"
DJ Snake & Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What"
Martin Garrix, "Animals"
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams, "Stay the Night"

Best Video With A Social Message

Angel Haze ft. Sia, "Battle Cry"
Avicii ft. Dan Tyminski, "Hey Brother"
Beyonce, "Pretty Hurts"
David Guetta, "One Voice"
J. Cole, "Crooked Smile"
Kelly Rowland, "Dirty Laundry"

Best Cinematography

30 Seconds to Mars, "City of Angels"
Arcade Fire, "Afterlife"
Beyonce, "Pretty Hurts"
Gesaffelstein, "Hate Or Glory"
Lana Del Rey, "West Coast"

Best Editing

Beyonce, "Pretty Hurts"
Eminem, "Rap God"
Fitz and the Tantrums, "The Walker"
MGMT, "Your Life is a Lie"
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams, "Stay the Night"

Best Choreography

Beyonce, "Partition"
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz, "Talk Dirty"
Kiesza, "Hideaway"
Michael Jackson ft. Justin Timberlake, "Love Never Felt So Good"
Sia, "Chandelier"
Usher, "Good Kisser"

Best Direction

Beyonce, "Pretty Hurts"
DJ Snake & Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What"
Eminem ft. Rihanna, "The Monster"
Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball"
OK Go, "The Writing's On The Wall"

Best Art Direction

Arcade Fire, "Reflektor"
DJ Snake & Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What"
Eminem, "Rap God"
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX, "Fancy"
Tyler, the Creator, "Tamale"

Best Visual Effects

Disclosure, "Grab Her!"
DJ Snake & Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What"
Eminem, "Rap God"
Jack White, "Lazaretto"
OK Go, "The Writing's On The Wall"