The leading ladies of pop music, notably Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, dominated the MTV Video Music Awards.

Beyoncé wrapped up the show with a mini-concert, and then delivered the night’s most touching moment in accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her lifetime achievement in music from her husband, rapper Jay Z, who called her the “greatest living entertainer.”

Jay Z, carrying the couple’s daughter, Blue Ivy, then shared a sweet kiss on stage with his wife, who was overcome with emotion, saying, “I have nothing to say, I am so full from gratitude.”

The singer, dressed in a sparkly bodysuit and surrounded by large screens and silhouetted dancers, wowed Sunday night’s audience with a performance of a string of her hits: “Haunted” “Drunk in Love,” “Partition” and “Blue,” her ode to her daughter.

Beyoncé also picked up three other Moon Man statuettes: Best collaboration for “Drunk in Love” with Jay Z and best cinematography and best video with a social message for “Pretty Hurts.”

Ms. Cyrus, who set tongues wagging at last year’s Video Music Awards with her raunchy “twerking” during her performance, won the night’s top prize, video of the year, for “Wrecking Ball.”

She opted to send a young, homeless man named Jesse to collect her award.

“I’ve cleaned your hotels rooms, I’ve been an extra in your movies, I’ve been an extra in your life. Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have many of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight,” the young man said.

Since launching in 1984, Viacom-owned MTV’s video awards have become synonymous with irreverence and unscripted moments that have become part of music history, and all eyes were on whoever delivered the most outrageous or unplanned stunt.

Ariana Grande kicked off the show with “Break Free” before joining Nikki Minaj and Jessie J for “Bang Bang.”

Taylor Swift debuted her upbeat single “Shake It Off” from her upcoming pop album “1989,” while Iggy Azalea and British singer Rita Ora performed their sultry track “Black Widow.”

British newcomer Sam Smith used a bare set to showcase his voice on his hit, “Stay with Me,” while rockers Maroon 5 performed “Maps” outside the newly renovated Forum theater in Inglewood, Calif., for hundreds of fans.

The presenters also got in on the fun, with Jim Carrey tumbling on stage while announcing best pop video with Jeff Daniels. “Saturday Night Live” cast member Jay Pharoah impersonated Jay Z and Kanye West.

Other top winners of the fan-voted awards included Katy Perry landing the best female video award for the Cleopatra-themed music video for “Dark Horse.” British singer Ed Sheeran won best male video for “Sing”; Lorde won best rock video for “Royals”; and Ms. Grande won best pop video for “Problem,” featuring Ms. Azalea.

In the tightly contested artist-to-watch category, Fifth Harmony’s “Miss Movin’ On” beat out Australia’s 5 Seconds of Summer, rapper Schoolboy Q and British singers Sam Smith and Charlie XCX.