There’s nothing like MTV’s Video Music Awards.
The wildest night in the music world took place Sunday at New York’s UBS Arena, where veteran hitmakers and rising stars were all vying for one of the VMAs’ iconic Moon Person trophies.
Lady Gaga was the top contender, entering the evening with 12 nominations. Starting strong, she received the Artist of the Year honor at the top of the show before jetting to her “Mayhem Ball” concert at Madison Square Garden.
The odds were also good for Bruno Mars, who nailed 11 nods, and Kendrick Lamar, with 10 of his own. Sabrina Carpenter and K-pop talent ROSÉ also had strong chances, with eight nominations each.
But since a majority of the award categories are decided by fan voting, really anything could happen.
This year, the VMAs introduced two new categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist.
Diva Mariah Carey will receive the coveted Video Vanguard Award, while rapper Busta Rhymes is being bestowed with the first-ever VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Ricky Martin will be honored with the inaugural Latin Icon Award.
The 2025 MTV VMAs kick off at 8 p.m. Eastern, hosted by LL Cool J. The show will be broadcast live on CBS and MTV, with streaming available through Paramount+.
Check out all the nominees and winners right here:
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”
Artist of the Year
Manny Carabel via Getty Images
Song of the Year
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Lorde – “What Was That”
WINNER — ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Tate McRae – “Sports Car”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Best New Artist
Best Pop Artist
MTV Push Performance of the Year
Aug 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Sept 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Oct 2024 – Mark Ambor – “Belong Together”
Nov 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard”
Dec 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye”
WINNER — Jan 2025 – KATSEYE – “Touch”
Feb 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI”
Mar 2025 – Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS”
Apr 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow”
May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer”
June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
July 2025 – ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”
Best Collaboration
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther”
WINNER — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd”
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Manny Carabel via Getty Images
Best Pop
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
WINNER — Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Best Hip-Hop
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”
Best R&B
Chris Brown – “Residuals”
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)”
WINNER — Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l”
Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Best Alternative
Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up”
mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road”
WINNER — sombr – “back to friends”
The Marías – “Back To Me”
Manny Carabel via Getty Images
Best Rock
Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE”
Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)”
Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard”
Lenny Kravitz – “Honey”
Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine”
twenty one pilots – “The Contract”
Best Latin
Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”
KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Peso Pluma – “LA PATRULLA”
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?”
Best K-Pop
JENNIE – “like JENNIE”
WINNER — LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again”
Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom”
ROSÉ – “toxic till the end”
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”
WINNER — Tyla – “PUSH 2 START”
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece Of My Heart”
Best Country
Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You”
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You”
Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU”
WINNER — Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
Morgan Wallen – “Smile”
Manny Carabel via Getty Images
Manny Carabel via Getty Images
Best Album
Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”
Kendrick Lamar – “GNX”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
WINNER — Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet”
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)”
Damiano David – “FUNNY little STORIES”
Mac Miller – “Balloonerism”
Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful”
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Video for Good
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me”
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Younger And Hotter Than Me”
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking”
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Lorde – “Man Of The Year”
Miley Cyrus – “End of the World”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Roy Rochlin via Getty Images
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Best Editing
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”
Best Choreography
FKA twigs – “Eusexua”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Tyla – “PUSH 2 START”
Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Best Group
Song of the Summer
Addison Rae – Headphones On
Benson Boone – Mystical Magical
BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – All the Way
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Jessie Murph – Blue Strips
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
WINNER — Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)
