The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) lit up the UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, September 7, bringing together the biggest names in music for a night of electrifying performances, emotional speeches, and memorable wins. Hosted by LL Cool J, the evening celebrated the year’s most popular artists and videos with the iconic Moon Person trophy.

Heading into the ceremony, Lady Gaga led with 12 nominations, followed by Kendrick Lamar with 10. Rising stars ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter both earned eight nods, while Ariana Grande and The Weeknd picked up seven each. By the end of the night, Gaga and Grande emerged as two of the most celebrated winners, while newcomers like Alex Warren and Sombr made their mark on the VMAs stage.

Major Winners of the Night

The top honor of Video of the Year went to Ariana Grande for her uplifting single “brighter days ahead”. Grande, who also took home Best Pop, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech thanking her fans for sticking with her through what she called “the most transformative year” of her career.

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga captured Artist of the Year and, alongside Bruno Mars, won Best Collaboration for their sweeping ballad “Die With A Smile”. Though nominated in nearly every major category, Gaga’s biggest moment came when she praised the artistry of her peers: “This year has been about music that heals, that connects, that makes us dance and cry at the same time.”

In a surprise, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars claimed Song of the Year with their chart-dominating duet “APT.”, while Mariah Carey pulled double duty, winning Best R&B for “Type Dangerous” and receiving the prestigious Video Vanguard Award for her decades of influence on pop and R&B.

Iconic Performances and Special Honors

The night also honored legends. Ricky Martin accepted the Latin Icon Award, reminding the audience of his decades-long global impact. Hip-hop pioneer Busta Rhymes received the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, celebrated for shaping the genre’s past and continuing to inspire its future.

Emerging talent also had its moment: Alex Warren won Best New Artist, while Sombr triumphed in Best Alternative with “Back to Friends”. The PUSH Performance of the Year went to Katseye for their energetic single “Touch”.

The global reach of music was clear, with LISA, Tyla, Shakira, and Blackpink each taking home awards in international categories spanning K-pop, Afrobeats, Latin, and Best Group.

2025 MTV VMAs: Complete List of Winners and Nominees

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande – "brighter days ahead" (Winner)

• 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

• Lady Gaga (Winner)

• Bad Bunny

• Beyoncé

• Kendrick Lamar

• Morgan Wallen

Best New Artist

• Alex Warren (Winner)

• Ella Langley

• Gigi Perez

• Lola Young

• sombr

• The Marías

Latin Icon Award

• Ricky Martin (Winner)

Best Country

• Megan Moroney – "Am I Okay?" (Winner)

• Chris Stapleton – "Think I'm In Love With You"

• Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – "I'm Gonna Love You"

• Jelly Roll – "Liar"

• Lainey Wilson – "4x4xU"

• Morgan Wallen – "Smile"

Song of the Year

• ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – "APT." (Winner)

• Alex Warren – "Ordinary"

• Billie Eilish – "BIRDS OF A FEATHER"

• Doechii – "Anxiety"

• Ed Sheeran – "Sapphire"

• Gracie Abrams – "I Love You, I'm Sorry"

• Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – "Die With A Smile"

• Lorde – "What Was That"

• Tate McRae – "Sports Car"

• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – "Timeless"

Best R&B

• Mariah Carey – "Type Dangerous" (Winner)

• Chris Brown – "Residuals"

• Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs – "MUTT (REMIX)"

• PARTYNEXTDOOR – "N o C h i l l"

• Summer Walker – "Heart Of A Woman"

• SZA – "Drive"

• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – "Timeless"

Video Vanguard Award

• Mariah Carey (Winner)

Best Alternative

• Sombr – "Back to Friends" (Winner)

• Gigi Perez – "Sailor Song"

• Imagine Dragons – "Wake Up"

• Lola Young – "Messy"

• mgk and Jelly Roll – "Lonely Road"

• The Marías – "Back to Me"

Song of Summer

• Tate McRae – "Just Keep Watching" (Winner)

• Addison Rae – "Headphones On"

• Alex Warren – "Ordinary"

• Benson Boone – "Mystical Magical"

• Chappell Roan – "The Subway"

• BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman – "All the Way"

• Sombr – "12 to 12"

• Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild"

• Ravyn Lenae ft. Rex Orange County – "Love Me Not"

• Morgan Wallen ft. Tate McRae – "What I Want"

• Demi Lovato – "Fast"

• Doja Cat – "Jealous Type"

• Jessie Murph – "Blue Strips"

• Justin Bieber – "Daisies"

• MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea – "Shake It to the Max (FLY)" Remix

• HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI – "Golden"

Rock the Bells Visionary Award

• Busta Rhymes (Recipient)

PUSH Performance of the Year

• Katseye – "Touch" (Winner)

• Shaboozey – "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

• Ayra Starr – "Last Heartbreak Song"

• Mark Ambor – "Belong Together"

• Lay Bankz – "Graveyard"

• Dasha – "Bye Bye Bye"

• Jordan Adetunji – "KEHLANI"

• Leon Thomas – "YES IT IS"

• Livingston – "Shadow"

• Role Model – "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out"

• Damiano David – "Next Summer"

• Gigi Perez – "Sailor Song"

Best K-pop

• LISA ft. Doja Cat and RAYE – "Born Again" (Winner)

• aespa – "Whiplash"

• JENNIE – "like JENNIE"

• Jimin – "Who"

• JISOO – "earthquake"

• ROSÉ – "toxic till the end"

• Stray Kids – "Chk Chk Boom"

Best Afrobeats

• Tyla – "PUSH 2 START" (Winner)

• Asake and Travis Scott – "Active"

• Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – "TaTaTa"

• Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea – "Shake It To The Max (FLY)" Remix

• Rema – "Baby (Is It A Crime)"

• Tems ft. Asake – "Get It Right"

• Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – "Piece Of My Heart"

Best Album

• Sabrina Carpenter – "Short n' Sweet" (Winner)

• Bad Bunny – "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS"

• Kendrick Lamar – "GNX"

• Lady Gaga – "Mayhem"

• Morgan Wallen – "I'm The Problem"

• The Weeknd – "Hurry Up Tomorrow"

Best Collaboration

• Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – "Die With A Smile" (Winner)

• Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – "Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)"

• Kendrick Lamar and SZA – "luther"

• Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – "Pour Me A Drink"

• ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – "APT."

• Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – "Sunset Blvd"

Best Pop

• Ariana Grande – "brighter days ahead" (Winner)

• Alex Warren – "Ordinary"

• Ed Sheeran – "Sapphire"

• Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – "Die With A Smile"

• ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – "APT."

• Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild"

Best Hip-Hop

• Doechii – "Anxiety" (Winner)

• Drake – "NOKIA"

• Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – "Somebody Save Me"

• GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – "WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME"

• Kendrick Lamar – "Not Like Us"

• LL COOL J ft. Eminem – "Murdergram Deux"

• Travis Scott – "4X4"

Best Pop Artist

• Sabrina Carpenter (Winner)

• Ariana Grande

• Tate McRae

• Charli XCX

• Justin Bieber

• Lorde

• Miley Cyrus

Best Latin

• Shakira – "Soltera" (Winner)

• Bad Bunny – "BAILE INoLVIDABLE"

• J Balvin – "Rio"

• KAROL G – "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"

• Peso Pluma and Netón Vega – "LA PATRULLA"

• Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos – "Khé?"

Best Group

• Blackpink (Winner)

• aespa

• All Time Low

• Backstreet Boys

• Coldplay

• Evanescence

• Fuerza Regida

• Grupo Frontera

• Jonas Brothers

• Imagine Dragons

• Katseye

• My Chemical Romance

• Seventeen

• Stray Kids

• The Marías

• Twenty One Pilots

Best Rock

• Coldplay – "ALL MY LOVE" (Winner)

• Evanescence – "Afterlife"

• Green Day – "One Eyed Bastard"

• Lenny Kravitz – "Honey"

• Linkin Park – "The Emptiness Machine"

• Twenty One Pilots – "The Contract"

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