Music’s biggest stars will head to London in November when the UK capital hosts the MTV European Music Awards (EMAs) for the first time in 21 years.

The 24th annual awards show will take over the city’s SSE Arena, Wembley on November 12 and will feature performances from some of the biggest acts on the planet.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was delighted to announce the news. He said: “After two decades away, the MTV EMAs are returning to electrify the greatest city in the world once again. It promises to be an absolutely incredible evening, featuring some of the globe’s top artists and watched by millions.

“London is the natural city to host one of the greatest musical shows on earth – with our exceptional musical history, wealth of creative talent and outstanding venues – we’re the entertainment capital of the world.”

The EMAs were first held in Berlin in 1994 and last year Rotterdam hosted with Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber picking up gongs. London first held the event in 1996 and other British host cities include Edinburgh, Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow.

“I think we are the entertainment capital of the world,” Khan added. “There was a view after Brexit that we were going to stop being outward-looking, a concern we would be insular and no longer the city we are known for. The announcement shows we are open for creativity, talent and entertainment.

“I was shocked that it has been two decades since the MTV EMAs was here. We are going to have a great year, and this November we will prove that London is the capital of the universe.”

David Lynn, chief executive of Viacom International Media Networks, MTV’s parent company,  said: “London is arguably the world’s musical epicentre and it’s both a huge privilege and opportunity to bring the MTV EMAs 2017 to the UK’s capital city.”