Lady GaGa will open the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

The 27-year-old singer has been chosen to kick off the show this Sunday (25.08.13) at 9pm with the first ever live performance of her new single 'Applause', from her comeback album 'ARTPOP'.

The eccentric star is a regular at the annual event - held this year in Brooklyn, New York - having performed her hit singles 'You And I' and 'Paparazzi' in previous years.

Fans are busy speculating what bizarre get-up Gaga will wear on stage, with her clamshell bikini from the 'Applause' music video being a hot favourite.

The singer will be joined by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry at the event.

Justin has six nominations this year and is rumoured to be reuniting with his old band, *Nsync, for the first time in over a decade to celebrate receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for his contributions to the music industry.

Meanwhile, One Direction are due to make a ''special appearance'', and Kanye West is scheduled to make his seventh performance at the VMAs.

This year's event also boasts a brand new category, Best Song of the Summer, with nominees including Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky', Selena Gomez's 'Come & Get It'; One Direction's 'Best Song Ever', 'I Need Your Love' by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding, and Thicke's 'Blurred Lines'.