6 Nov 2011

Belfast hosts MTV Europe Music Awards

Belfast is in “in full party mode”, says the city’s lord mayor, as the city hosts some of the biggest stars in pop music for the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Belfast hosts MTV Europe Music Awards. (Getty)

The MTV music channel has taken over the Northern Irish city for its annual ceremony which is being held in three different locations for the first time with performances in the Ulster Hall and City Hall as well as the main arena.

Lady Gaga leads the way with six nominations, while Mars and Katy Perry have four each.

Adele will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of losing out on the Mercury Prize after being nominated for the best female award and best video and best song for her hit Rolling In The Deep.

The singer, who lost out to PJ Harvey for the Mercury, also gets a nod for the best UK and Ireland act.

This is our chance to shine with footage being beamed to an audience of 600 million across the world. Niall O’ Donnghaile

The awards have a massive worldwide audience. More than 22 million tuned in last year to watch acts including Rihanna, Plan B and Bon Jovi.

Writing on his blog, the Lord Mayor of Belfast councillor Niall O’ Donnghaile said the city was “in full party mode”.

He said: “This is our chance to shine with footage being beamed to an audience of 600 million across the world. What an amazing opportunity for us to put our wee part of the world under a global spotlight.”