Singer Justin Bieber has won the first big award of the night, Best Male, at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Milan.
Accepting his award, Bieber said: "Wow, thank you. It's been a long couple of years, um, I just feel like this is pretty awesome to be recognised for my music. I just want to say thank you to all of my fans, you guys are really incredible. I want to thank you mom and my dad, and God, and everyone who helped me get to this place. I love you, thank you."
Singers Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis opened the show with a sizzling performance, which saw one of them suspended from the roof singing in front of a picture of a moon.
Host Ed Sheeran told the crowd: "I'm very excited to be here, Italy is one of my favourite countries.. it's nice to be hosting a show here."
He was joined on stage by his co-host, model and Orange Is The New Black actress, Ruby Rose.
The second performance of the night was Jason Derulo, performing his hit Want To Want Me. Speaking before the show had promised a high energy, futuristic show with a "shock" in the middle of it.
The evening promises an intriguing battle between Taylor Swift, who has nine nominations, and Bieber who has six nods.
A good deal of anticipation surrounds Bieber's forthcoming performance because he broke down in tears at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in August.
The Canadian pop star explained why he had been so overwhelmed on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show: "I just wasn't expecting them to support me in the way they did. Last time I was at an awards show, I was booed."
After confirming his appearance at the EMAs, Bieber said: "I'm excited to share this performance and this new material with my fans around the world. The EMAs are always a blast. I'm glad to be back and it's going to be fun".
The star is due to release his new album Purpose on November 13, the same date as One Direction's much-anticipated fifth studio album, Made In The AM.
American girl band Fifth Harmony opened the red carpet in style as they sang and danced down the red carpet performing their hit Worth It.
Singer James Bay has said he would love to write a song for Sir Tom Jones.
Talking on the red carpet he commented on reports saying Sir Tom wanted him to write for him.
"I would love to say yes, but I've not started yet, I'm trying to find some time," Bay told the Press Association.
New Romantic favourites Duran Duran will receive the first ever MTV Video Visionary Award.
The chart-topping 1980s band will be given the honour for their strong visual presence, and for influencing a generation of musicians with some of the best pioneering music videos of all time.
Music producer Naughty Boy, who had a very public Twitter spat with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, said he is being kept busy promoting his new single, Runnin' (Lose It All) that features Beyonce and Arrow Benjamin.
"It's a good end to the year, it's been a circus of a year," he said.
When asked if everything was settled with One Direction, he said: "This is the media business, we're all circus monkeys, we go round and go the other way and then we go back again so I'm just going this way."