The MTV Europe Music Award are awarded in a series of categories, each of which isolate a specific contribution to the recording industry or geographical region.

Firstly awarded in 1994, in its originating idea, was to promote European local artists, become since 2011 an occasion to honor artists not only from the EMEA region. In 1994 MTV acknowledged local European artists by introducing Local Hero award.^[1] Award was discontinued, but since 1998 there was a process of adding awards to regional musicians, starting with United Kingdom/Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Nordics.^[2] In 2000 MTV launched awards to French, Spanish, Polish, Dutch. Within the next couple of years, the number of regional award categories systematically increased by adding awards to the musicians from Russia, Romania, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Adria (former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina), Baltics (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Hungary, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In 2005 award for best African act has been awarded, which was the first case when European in its name award was granted outside to the artists from geographical Europe. In 2007 awarded Arabic artists, and in 2008 awarded best Israeli act.

Since 2007 viewers were able to select Best European Act from the winners of the regional categories, where Israeli act were included, but African and Arabic musicians were excluded from the category.^[3]

In 2011 MTV rebranded the award, and removed European from its name, shortening to MTV EMA only. It was the first year when Best Worldwide Act was granted. Award was given to the artists previously awarded in the regional categories for Best European Act, Best North American Act, Best Latin American Act, Best Africa, Middle East and India Act, Best Asian and Pacific Act.

There are only 3 categories that were awarded in every edition: Best Song, Best New Act, Best Rock.

• Best Video
• Best Song
• Best Artist
• Best New Act
• Best Group
• Best Pop
• Best Rock
• Best Hip-Hop
• Best R&B
• Best Alternative
• Best Electronic
• Best Live Act
• Best Push Act
• Best World Stage Performance

• Biggest Fans
• Best Look

• Free Your Mind
• Global Icon
• Artist's Choice
• MTV Voice
• Ultimate Legend
• Video Visionary
• Power of Music
• Best Song with a Social Message
• Best Collaboration
• Generation Change

• Best Baltic Act
• Best Belgian Act
• Best Danish Act
• Best Dutch Act
• Best Finnish Act
• Best French Act
• Best German Act
• Best Greek Act
• Best Hungarian Act
• Best Israeli Act
• Best Italian Act
• Best Norwegian Act
• Best Polish Act
• Best Portuguese Act
• Best Romanian Act
• Best Spanish Act
• Best Swedish Act
• Best Swiss Act
• Best UK & Ireland Act
• Best Ukrainian Act

• Best African Act
• Best Middle East Act
• Best Australian Act
• Best Brazilian Act
• Best Canadian Act
• Best Indian Act
• Best Japanese Act
• Best Korean Act
• Best Latin America North Act
• Best Latin America Central Act
• Best Latin America South Act
• Best Mainland China & Hong Kong Act
• Best New Zealander Act
• Best Southeast Asian Act
• Best Taiwanese Act
• Best US Act
• Best Asian Act

• Best Africa, Middle East and India Act
• Best Asian Act
• Best European Act
• Best Latin American Act
• Best North American Act
• Best Worldwide Act

• Best Cover (1994)
• MTV Amour (1996)
• MTV Select (1996–1998)
• Best Hard Rock (2002)
• Best Nordic Act (1999–2004)
• Web Award (2001–2003, 2007)
• Best Album (1998–2008)
• Best Urban (2007–2009)
• Best European Act (2008–2012)
• Best Turkish Act (2007–2009, 2011)
• Best Dutch & Belgian Act (2004–2010)
• Best Romanian & Moldovan Act (2007–2009)
• Best New UK & Ireland Act (2008–2010)
• Best Czech & Slovak Act (2010–2013)
• Best Hungarian Act (2007–2013)
• Best MTV2 UK Act (2003)
• Best Asia and Pacific Act (2011–2012)
• Best Male (1994–2006, 2009–2016)
• Best Female (1994–2006, 2009–2016)
• Best Adria Act (2005-2017)
• Best Russian Act (2004-2021)

^{^[a]} Local Hero Award

^{^[b]} MTV Select

• List of Grammy Award categories