It was all about the music as the television set came alive on stage for the 2015 MTV European Music Awards (EMAs), featuring unforgettable moments by powerhouse performers. The event was broadcast across the globe from the Mediolanum Forum in Milan with host Ed Sheeran and co-host Ruby Rose.

The biggest moments of the night:

• Justin Bieber showcased his purpose with an incredible performance of What Do You Mean?, and was the biggest winner of the night with five MTV EMAs: he took home best male for a sixth year in a row; won best look, worldwide act: North America; best collaboration for his work with Skrillex and Diplo on Where Are You Now?; and Beliebers came out in full effect to help him win biggest fans in a heated social vote, with One Direction landing in second place.
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis opened the show with a high-octane performance of their award-winning song Downtown, which featured mopeds, travellators and Eric Nally flying high above the stage.  Later in the evening, they won best video for Downtown.
• Pharrell Williams closed the night with a powerful performance of his hit track Freedom. Afterward, the broadcast cut to Piazza Duomo in central Milan, where thousands of fans held up a massive 23 x 16 metre ‘Freedom’ flag. Incorporating national flags from all over the world, the flag symbolized the birth of a utopian country that knows no borders and kicked off the MTV Freedom campaign, which seeks to raise awareness, activism and donations in support of the current refugee crisis. More information is available at freedom.mtvema.com. #EMAfreedom
• Host Ed Sheeran was busy throughout the night. Not only did he commandeer proceedings with co-host Ruby Rose, but he joined Rudimental atop a collection of retro radios for a funky collaboration on their hit Lay it All On Me, and took home awards for best live act and best world stage.
• In an unforgettable nod to this year’s host country, legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed a breathtaking rendition of his classic Time To Say Goodbye, then joined powerhouse Tori Kelly for a once-in-a-lifetime duet of Pink’s hit song, Just Give Me a Reason.
• Last year’s MTV EMA Host Nicki Minaj won best hip hop; best pop went to One Direction; Rihanna nabbed best female; Taylor Swift won best song with Bad Blood featuring Kendrick Lamar; and best alternative went to Lana Del Rey.
• Jason Derulo took over the arena with his hit Want To Want Me, as he and his troop of popping dancers zoomed between all three stages on SwegWays.
• Ellie Goulding wowed the crowd as she emerged from a cluster of giant, mirrored crystals for a glittering performance of her hit Love Me Like You Do.

MTV PUSH artists Jess Glynne and James Bay both made their marks on the MTV EMA stage with impressive debut performances. Meanwhile, twenty one pilots and superstar DJs Martin Garrix and Afrojack entertained tens of thousands of fans in central Milan’s Piazza Duomo with a spectacular outdoor MTV EMAs concert.

Rock heroes Duran Duran were honored with the first ever MTV Video Visionary Award, celebrating the greatest pioneers in the history of the music video art form.

The 2016 MTV EMAs will be held in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch all the action on MTV (DStv channel 130) tonight at 7 pm.