Manchester's night of music royalty hits all the right notes

Manchester's Co-op Live Arena pulsed with the electric buzz of one of Europe's biggest music nights as the 30th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) rolled into town on Sunday. The star-studded evening, hosted by the ever-charismatic Rita Ora, was a mix of powerful live performances, heartfelt tributes, and record-breaking wins - especially for pop's reigning queens, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter.

Though Swift was physically absent from Manchester, her spirit loomed large over the crowd. According to BBC, the singer swept up a total of four EMAs, including Best Artist, Video (for Fortnight), Live Act, and US Artist. Swift's victory for Best Artist made her the only artist to have won the title three times - a crowning moment that further cemented her place in music history. In her acceptance speech, streamed in from the Canadian leg of her Eras tour, she thanked fans with her signature humility and enthusiasm.

"I am so sad that I can't be with you tonight," Swift said with her signature warmth, busy with the last leg of her Eras tour in Canada. "But thank you so much for these amazing awards. The fact that you have honoured the tour and everything that's happened with the album this year, the video, it's just unbelievable." Not forgetting her Fortnight collaborator, Swift gave a shout-out to Post Malone and, naturally, her fans for keeping the Swift magic alive on both sides of the Atlantic.

But Swift wasn't the only one missing the party and still snagging major accolades. Sabrina Carpenter, another fan-favourite, took home the EMA for Best Song with her catchy hit Espresso, a track that's been the anthem for every caffeine-fuelled pop lover this year. Although she couldn't attend due to her Short n' Sweet tour commitments, Carpenter's win was met with loud applause, and fans clearly missed seeing her on the EMA stage.

Meanwhile, the night was anything but short on sensational live performances. Shawn Mendes electrified the crowd, as did Le Sserafim, the K-pop sensation who also went home with the Best Push award. Rising star Raye, who scooped up Best UK & Ireland Act, gave a powerful performance, showcasing why she's become one of Britain's brightest musical exports. South Africa's Tyla brought home three awards for Best R&B, Best Afrobeats, and Best African Artist, expressing her gratitude in a heartfelt acceptance speech: "I am honoured and humbled."

In a nostalgic tribute to musical longevity, the Pet Shop Boys were awarded the Pop Pioneers honour, celebrating four decades of their genre-defining work. Iconic rapper Busta Rhymes accepted the prestigious Global Icon Award, taking the crowd down memory lane with a stirring speech: "Tonight is a dream come true. I'm honoured. I feel tremendously blessed."