The 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards have been cancelled in France, with the “volatility of world events” and the Israel-Hamas war given as reasons. The annual ceremony, which celebrates music and artists from across the globe, was due to be held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, on 5 November, but will now be rescheduled for November 2024. In a statement, the film and TV production company Paramount said: “Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life. “The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.” Since the death of a schoolteacher after a stabbing last week, in Arras, France has been on its highest security alert. The funeral for Dominique Bernard, 57, was held on Thursday in Arras, the northern town where he taught the French at the Gambetta-Carnot school. A suspected Islamist extremist was arrested. Last year the EMAs were co-hosted by the Oscar-winning writer and director Taika Waititi, and singer Rita Ora. At the ceremony the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift collected four of the top gongs – including for best artist, best video, and best long-form video award for her 10-minute version of All Too Well (Taylor’s Version). The Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, British rapper Stormzy, and Ukrainian rap group Kalush Orchestra, performed and Tom Cruise delivered a surprise message to introduce OneRepublic’s performance of I Ain’t Worried, which the US band wrote for Top Gun: Maverick.