But which artists came out on top during the live broadcast from New York’s UBS Arena on September 7?
Ricky Martin accepts the Latin Icon award during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Rapper Busta Rhymes and singer Ricky Martin had already been declared winners ahead of the show, being this year’s artists to claim the first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award and the inaugural MTV Latin Icon Award, respectively, for breaking boundaries in their music genres.
Mariah Carey earned the highest accolade of the night — the Vanguard Award, marking her first Moonman in her 35-year career.
Lady Gaga led the VMA 2025 nominations with a whopping 12, including major categories like Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Album. The show started with her accepting the Artist of the Year award ahead of her Madison Square Garden performance. Bruno Mars, who collaborated with Lady Gaga on their hit “Die With a Smile,” which won best collaboration, trailed right behind her with 11 nods.
Other front-running nominees were Kendrick Lamar with 10 noms, Sabrina Carpenter and BLACKPINK member Rosé with eight, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven, and Billie Eilish with six. Charli xcx had five nominations stemming from her brat summer, while Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae received four each.
LL Cool J served as host for the VMAs 2025, which aired on CBS and MTV and 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”
