Freed from the constraints of a physical set build, we created a fantastical and completely digital ‘outdoor’ arena to host the 2020 edition of the MTV Europe Music Awards.

The awards, which ordinarily take place in a different European city each year, are a joyous celebration of music and pop culture. For 2020, when travel and physical events were not possible, we integrated off-site performances, award presentations and acceptance speeches into a vast digital arena where remote live audiences merged with digital crowds. 

Grown out of the 2020 EMA identity, the complex set resembled a futuristic Colosseum built out of concentric circular tiers that expanded outwards from a central stage. A floating halo played graphic packages and performances, while a giant sphere that referenced the award show’s globe-like gong, split in two to create an additional stage for performances and presentations.