[1] This marked the first time that Hungary hosted the awards show and as well the first event has been held in a former communist country.

[8] President and CEO of MTV Entertainment Group Worldwide Chris McCarthy explained that no censorship by the Hungarian government will be tolerated:[9]"As a gay man, my personal emotions got the better of me.

Instead, we should move forward, using the show as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary and around the world as we continue to fight for equality for all".Performers included Kim Petras, the first out trans performer at the EMAs,[10] with an act that was intentionally raunchy and "sex positive"[10] and who spoke out to say "It's going to be pretty powerful to be in Hungary and perform the show when these laws have just happened".

[11] Other artists were also given stage time to speak out against Hungarian anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including Saweetie and Lil Nas X.

[11] There were also announced five "Generation Change Awards", introduced by Drew Barrymore and honouring LGBTQ+ activists from Iraq, Nigeria, Brazil, the United States and Hungary, with Budapest Pride organiser Viktória Radványi accepting the award in person;[11] the other honourees were Amir Ashour, founder of IraQueer; Matthew Blaise, founder of The Oasis Project in Nigeria; Sage Dolan-Sandrino, an Afro-Cuban queer and trans artist from the United States; and Erika Hilton, the first black trans woman elected to the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo.