The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards delivered an unforgettable night of music, celebrating the year’s most influential artists and groundbreaking music videos. Held on September 7, 2025, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, the ceremony showcased spectacular performances and honored both emerging talents and industry legends with the coveted Moon Person trophies.
2025 MTV VMAs: Event Overview and Host Details
LL Cool J hosted the 41st annual MTV Video Music Awards, marking a historic moment as the ceremony aired for the first time on CBS, with simultaneous broadcasts on MTV and streaming on Paramount+. The three-hour spectacular began at 8 PM ET, preceded by a pre-show at 7 PM ET hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney.
The ceremony honored music videos and songs released between June 20, 2024, and June 18, 2025, introducing two exciting new categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist, both determined by fan votes.
Complete MTV VMAs 2025 Winners List: All Categories and Results
Major Category Winners
Video of the Year
- Winner: Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
- Nominees: ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – “APT.”, Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”, Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”, Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Artist of the Year
- Winner: Lady Gaga
- Nominees: Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd
Song of the Year
Genre-Specific MTV VMAs 2025 Winners
Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Best Pop: Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Best Hip-Hop: Doechii – “Anxiety”
Best R&B: Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
Best Alternative: sombr – “Back to Friends”
Best Rock: Coldplay – “All My Love”
Best Latin: Shakira – “Soltera”
Best K-Pop: Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – “Born Again”
Best Afrobeats: Tyla – “Push 2 Start”
Best Country: Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
Collaboration and Special Category MTV VMAs 2025 Winners
Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile”
Song of the Summer: Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)”
Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet”
MTV Push Performance of the Year: KATSEYE – “Touch” (January 2025)
Video for Good: Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish
Technical Achievement MTV VMAs 2025 Winners
Best Direction: Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Best Art Direction: Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Best Cinematography: Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Best Editing: Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1: The Movie)”
Best Choreography: Doechii – “Anxiety”
Best Visual Effects: Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Best Longform Video: Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Lady Gaga Dominates MTV VMAs 2025 with Four Wins
Lady Gaga emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home four Moon Person trophies from her impressive 12 nominations. Her victories included Artist of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Direction (both for “Abracadabra”), and Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for “Die With a Smile”.
In a touching moment, Gaga had to leave the ceremony early for a Madison Square Garden performance, but she stayed long enough to accept her Artist of the Year award in person. The VMAs later showcased her live MSG performance of “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” during the broadcast.
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MTV VMAs 2025 Special Performances: Legendary Tributes and Rising Stars
Video Vanguard Award Performance: Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey received the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, presented by Ariana Grande. The five-time Grammy winner delivered a career-spanning medley featuring her greatest hits, celebrating her decades-long impact on music and visual storytelling.
Rock the Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes was honored with the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, followed by an electrifying performance showcasing his innovative contributions to hip-hop culture.
Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin made history as the first recipient of the Latin Icon Award, celebrating his groundbreaking role in bringing Latin music to global audiences. His performance highlighted his most iconic Latin hits.
Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Performance
One of the night’s most emotional moments featured a special tribute to metal legend Ozzy Osbourne. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, along with YUNGBLUD and Nuno Bettencourt, delivered a powerful performance honoring the Black Sabbath frontman.
MTV VMAs 2025 Main Stage Performers
The ceremony featured an impressive lineup of contemporary artists:
Pop Performances:
Hip-Hop and Rap:
- Doja Cat brought her signature energy to the stage
- Post Malone & Jelly Roll collaborated for a memorable performance
Rising Artists:
- Alex Warren showcased why he won Best New Artist
- Conan Gray represented the new generation of pop artists
- sombr performed following his Best Alternative win
International Flavor:
BLACKPINK and K-Pop Dominance at MTV VMAs 2025
BLACKPINK continued their VMAs legacy, winning Best Group for the second time, maintaining their status as the first and only K-pop female group to claim this prestigious award. Meanwhile, Lisa secured her third Best K-Pop award in four years for “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat & Raye.
The pre-show also featured a performance by KATSEYE, who later won MTV Push Performance of the Year for “Touch”.
Historic Moments and Notable Achievements from MTV VMAs 2025
Broadcasting Milestone
The 2025 ceremony marked a historic shift as the VMAs aired on CBS for the first time, expanding its reach to broadcast television while maintaining its MTV roots.
New Categories Debut
Two new categories made their debut: Best Country and Best Pop Artist, reflecting the evolving landscape of popular music and recognizing previously underrepresented genres at the VMAs.
Record-Breaking Nominations
Lady Gaga led nominations with 12 nods, followed by Bruno Mars with 11 and Kendrick Lamarwith 10, showcasing the year’s most impactful collaborations and individual achievements.
Conclusion: MTV VMAs 2025 Celebrates Music’s Evolution
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards successfully balanced honoring music legends with celebrating emerging talent, delivering memorable performances and recognizing the year’s most innovative music videos. From Lady Gaga’s dominant sweep to BLACKPINK’s continued K-pop excellence, the ceremony reflected music’s global reach and evolving landscape.
With historic broadcasts, new categories, and unforgettable performances, the MTV VMAs 2025reinforced the awards show’s position as music’s premier celebration of visual artistry and cultural impact. The night proved that music continues to unite diverse audiences while pushing creative boundaries in an ever-changing industry.
The ceremony’s success at UBS Arena, combined with its expanded broadcasting reach and diverse winner representation, sets a strong foundation for future VMAs celebrations, ensuring the awards remain relevant and exciting for new generations of music fans worldwide.