Katy Perry was denied permission to perform on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

The 28-year-old singer is closing the MTV Video Music Awards tonight (25.08.13) and was forced to come up with a new plan for her debut performance of her new single 'Roar' after city officials refused to approve a permit to allow her to take over the iconic landmark.

A source told UsMagazine.com: ''She was supposed to perform on top of the Brooklyn Bridge but the city wouldn't give her the permit.''

Katy, whose new single sold 557,000 digital downloads in its first week of release, has now agreed to sing underneath the bridge instead.

Other performers at tonight's ceremony will include Lady GaGa, who will open the show, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, as well as Justin Timberlake, who will perform his new track 'Take Back The Night' as well as a medley of *Nsync hits with his old bandmates.

Justin has six nominations this year and planned the special performance to celebrate receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for his contributions to the music industry.

Meanwhile, One Direction is due to make a ''special appearance'', and Kanye West is scheduled to perform at the annual event for the seventh time.

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'.

The 2013 MTV Video Awards will be shown on MTV from 8pm tomorrow (26.08.13).