The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) celebrated its 40th anniversary on September 11, 2024, at the UBS Arena in New York. For the VMAs 40th anniversary milestone, Matt Steinbrenner returned as the stage designer to help create a fusion of nostalgia, modernity and spectacle.
The design for the 2024 VMAs harnesses the full potential of the UBS Arena. The visual centrepiece of the design is a towering 60-foot-tall Moon Person, emerging from a massive video wall and reaching 55 feet into the room as if stepping out of the digital world and into the physical.
This year’s layout breaks new ground with four distinct stages, each providing a unique perspective and energy for both performers and the audience. The main stage consists of two side-by-side stages, each 60 feet wide and 40 feet deep, anchored along the length of the arena. Both stages feature expansive video backing walls, setting the tone for an immersive visual experience. Positioned at the heart of the arena is a central fan stage that emerges from a thrust under the Moon Person. The 20×20-foot stage creates an interactive space where the crowd’s energy converges. Tiers of audience members frame a rising stage capable of lifting 19 feet into the air. The height of the stage adjustability allows for varied visual dynamics throughout the night, enhancing the sense of movement and scale.
The giant moon and the visor of the Moon Person both acted as canvases for projection mapping, showcasing legendary clips and iconic moments from the past four decades.
Steinbrenner has worked on the VMAs for over a decade and is known for his designs that fuse technology and art.
