The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards have come and gone. But which artists claimed victory during the live broadcast from New York’s UBS Arena on September 7?
“Rapper Busta Rhymes and singer Ricky Martin were announced as winners ahead of the show, taking home this year’s first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award and the inaugural MTV Latin Icon Award, respectively, in recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to their music genres.
Mariah Carey received the night’s highest honor — the Vanguard Award — earning her first Moonman in her 35-year career.”
“Lady Gaga led the 2025 VMA nominations with an impressive 12, including major categories such as Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Album. The show kicked off with her accepting the Artist of the Year award before her performance at Madison Square Garden. Bruno Mars, who teamed up with Gaga on their hit “Die With a Smile,” which won Best Collaboration, followed closely with 11 nominations.
Other top contenders included Kendrick Lamar with 10 nods; Sabrina Carpenter and BLACKPINK’s Rosé with eight; Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven; and Billie Eilish with six. Charli XCX earned five nominations thanks to her standout “brat summer,” while Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae each received four.
LL Cool J hosted the 2025 VMAs, which aired on CBS and MTV and were also streamed on Paramount+.”
Scroll to see the VMA winners!
Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
WINNER: Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Song of the Year
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Lorde – “What Was That”
Tate McRae – “Sports Car”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
WINNER: ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
WINNER: Lady Gaga
Best New Artist
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
sombr
The Marías
WINNER: Alex Warren
MTV Push Performance of the Year
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”
Damiano David – “Next Summer”
Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
WINNER: KATSEYE – “Touch”
Best Collaboration
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther”
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me a Drink”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Sunset Blvd”
WINNER: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
Best Pop
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
WINNER: Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Best R&B
Chris Brown – “Residuals”
Leon Thomas & 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”
WINNER: Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
Best Alternative
Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up”
Lola Young – “Messy”
mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road”
The Marías – “Back to Me”
WINNER: sombr – “back to friends”
Best K-Pop
aespa – “Whiplash”
JENNIE – “like JENNIE”
Jimin – “Who”
JISOO – “earthquake”
Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom”
ROSÉ – “toxic till the end”
WINNER: LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again”
Best Afrobeats
Asake & Travis Scott – “Active”
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & 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”
WINNER: Tyla – “PUSH 2 START”
Best Country
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”
WINNER: Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
Best Album
Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Song of the Summer
Addison Rae – “Headphones On”
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Benson Boone – “Mystical Magical”
BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”
Chappell Roan – “The Subway”
Demi Lovato – “Fast”
Doja Cat – “Jealous Type”
Huntr/x – “Golden”
Jessie Murph – “Blue Strips”
Justin Bieber – “Daisies”
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)”
Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae – “What I Want”
Ravyn Lenae Featuring Rex Orange County – “Love Me Not”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Nominee: Sombr – ‘12 to 12’
Winner: Tate McRae – ‘Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)’
