2003 MTV Video Music Awards

The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 28, 2003, honoring the best music videos from June 1, 2002, to June 9, 2003. The show was hosted by Chris Rock at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The ceremony is best remembered for Madonna kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during the show's opening performance.

Background
MTV announced on June 25 that the 2003 Video Music Awards would be held on August 28 at Radio City Music Hall and hosted by Chris Rock. Nominees were announced on July 24. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act. Hosted by Kurt Loder and SuChin Pak with reports from John Norris, Iann Robinson, Sway, and Gideon Yago, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews, pre-taped features on the career of Johnny Cash and a comparison between Eminem and 50 Cent, and performances from Sean Paul and Black Eyed Peas.

This was the final year to present International Viewers' Choice Awards representing MTV's international affiliates.

Pre-show

 * Kurt Loder and SuChin Pak – announced the winners of the professional categories
 * Carmen Electra, Dave Navarro and Iann Robinson – presented Breakthrough Video and Best Direction in a Video

Main show

 * LeBron James and Ashanti – presented Best Hip-Hop Video
 * Tony Hawk and Bam Margera – introduced Good Charlotte
 * Kelly Clarkson and Ludacris – presented Best R&B Video
 * Amy Lee, Ben Moody and Sean Paul – presented Best Video from a Film
 * Crank Yankers – appeared in different vignettes presenting Viewer's Choice Award voting procedures
 * Nelly and Murphy Lee – introduced Christina Aguilera
 * OutKast and Iggy Pop – presented the MTV2 Award
 * David Spade and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – presented Best Pop Video
 * P. Diddy – introduced Run-D.M.C. and presented Best Rap Video with them
 * Hilary Duff, Lil Jon and Jason Biggs – presented Best Group Video
 * Eminem and "Special Ed" (from Crank Yankers) – introduced 50 Cent
 * Jimmy Fallon and the cast from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy – presented Best Female Video
 * Fred Durst – introduced Jack Black and presented Best Rock Video with him
 * DMX – introduced Mary J. Blige
 * Kelly Osbourne and Avril Lavigne – presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Duran Duran and presented Best Dance Video with them
 * Justin Timberlake – introduced Coldplay
 * Venus and Serena Williams – presented Best Male Video
 * Mýa and Pamela Anderson – presented Best New Artist in a Video
 * Pharrell and Chester Bennington – introduced Beyoncé
 * Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore – presented Viewer's Choice
 * Adam Sandler and Snoop Dogg (with Bishop Don "Magic" Juan) – presented Video of the Year

Winners and nominees
Nominees were selected by a group of approximately 5,000 viewers and members of the music industry. Winners in general and professional categories were selected by a group of 500 members of the music industry. Winners of the Viewer's Choice award and the MTV2 Award were selected by viewers. Voting for the MTV2 Award and Viewer's Choice award was conducted on MTV's website and, in the case of the latter award, through phone voting that continued through the ceremony broadcast.

Winners are in bold text.