MTV Video Music Awards 2025: Complete Winners Recap and Highlights

The 2025 MTV VMAS featured some of music’s biggest stars taking home a coveted Moon Person trophy.

LL Cool J hosted the event, which took place this year on Sunday, Sept. 7, at the UBS Arena in New York.

Going into the show, Lady Gaga led with most nominations, scoring 12 nominations total. Other leading nominees included Kendrick Lamar with 10 nods; ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter with eight each; Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven apiece; Billie Eilish with six; and Charli XCX with five.

From Gaga to Ricky Martin, Mariah CareyAlex Warren and more, here are all the night’s winners.

Video of the year

Ariana Grande accepts the Video of the Year Award for Brighter Days Ahead onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV

• 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 accepts the Artist of the Year award from Lenny Kravitz on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sept. 7, 2025.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

• Lady Gaga – WINNER
• Bad Bunny
• Beyoncé
• Kendrick Lamar
• Morgan Wallen

Best new artist

Alex Warren wins the Best New Artist Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV

• Alex Warren – WINNER
• She Langley
• Perez teeth
• Lola Young
• Umbrer
• The Marías

Latin Icon Award

Ricky Martin accepts the “Latin Icon Award” during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MTV

Ricky Martin – WINNER

Best country

Megan Moroney attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV

• 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

Rose accepts the Song of the Year Award for “APT” with Bruno Mars onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV

• 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”
• Sa – “Drive”
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”

Video Vanguard Award

Mariah Carey accepts the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from Ariana Grande during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV

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 reacts as he receives the Rock the Bells Visionary Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, New York, Sept. 7, 2025.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Busta Rhymes

PUSH Performance of the Year

Megan Skiendiel, Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeong, Sophia Laforteza, and Lara Raj of “Katseye”, winners of the MTV Push Performance Of The Year Award for “Touch” pose in the press room during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

• 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 Adunteri – “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 – “ToT”.
• 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, winner of the Best Album Award for “Short n’ Sweet” attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV

• Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet” – WINNER
• Bad Bunny- “I had to throw more photos”
• 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 accepts the award for best pop for “Brighter Days Ahead” during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

Charles Sykes/Invision via AP

• 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 – “Single” – Winner
• Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”
• J Ballvin – “Re”
• Karol G – “If I had known you before”
• Pen and Neta Vega Weight – “La Patrol”
• Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos – “Khé?”

Best group

• Blackpink – WINNER
• aespa
• All Time Low
• Backstreet Boys
• Coldplay
• Evanescence
• Girdle force
• Border Group
• 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”

What factors contributed to the evolution of the VMAs from its inception in 1984 to the 2025 show?

Key Moments from the 2025 VMAs

The 2025 MTV video Music Awards (VMAs) just wrapped up, delivering a night of unforgettable performances, stunning red carpet looks, and, of course, major wins! for viewers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the show was broadcast LIVE on MTV starting at 1:00 AM local time, and is now available for streaming with German subtitles on Paramount+. Here’s a comprehensive recap of the biggest moments and all the winners from this year’s show.

VMA 2025: The Winners List

while a full, detailed list is still being compiled, here are some of the key winners announced at the 2025 VMAs:

Video of the year: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Artist of the Year: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Song of the Year: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best New Artist: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best Collaboration: [Winner name – To be updated]

Best Pop: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best Hip-Hop: [winner name – To be updated]

Best R&B: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best Latin: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best K-Pop: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best Alternative: [Winner Name – To be updated]

Best Rock: [Winner Name – To be updated]

(This list will be updated as official results are released)

Performance Highlights: Who Lit Up the Stage?

The 2025 VMAs boasted an unbelievable lineup of performers. Here are some of the standout performances:

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[Performer 3]: [Brief description of performance – To be updated]

[Performer 4]: [Brief description of performance – To be updated]

Thes performances showcased a diverse range of musical styles, from pop anthems to electrifying hip-hop sets, keeping the audience engaged throughout the night. The stage production, lighting, and choreography were all top-notch, adding to the overall spectacle.

Red Carpet Fashion: Best Dressed at the VMAs 2025

The VMAs red carpet is always a major event in itself, and 2025 was no exception. Celebrities brought their A-game, showcasing bold and innovative fashion choices.

[Celebrity 1]: [Description of outfit – To be updated]

[Celebrity 2]: [description of outfit – To be updated]

[celebrity 3]: [Description of outfit – To be updated]

Expect to see these looks dominating fashion headlines in the coming days. Trends included [mention key fashion trends observed – To be updated].

Memorable Moments & viral Clips

Beyond the awards and performances, several moments from the 2025 VMAs quickly went viral:

[Moment 1]: [Description of moment – To be updated]

[Moment 2]: [Description of moment – To be updated]

[Moment 3]: [Description of moment – To be updated]

Social media platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram were buzzing with reactions and commentary throughout the night.

How to Watch the VMAs (If You Missed It Live)

For those who missed the live broadcast,here’s how to catch up:

paramount+: The show is available for streaming on paramount+ with German subtitles starting September 11th.

MTV Website/App: Check the MTV website and app for clips and highlights.

Social Media: Follow MTV’s official social media channels for behind-the-scenes content and performance snippets.

The Evolution of the VMAs: A Look Back

The MTV Video Music Awards have been a cultural touchstone since their inception in 1984. Originally created to celebrate the innovative music videos of the time, the VMAs have evolved to reflect the changing landscape of the music industry. From iconic performances by madonna and Michael jackson to groundbreaking moments like Kanye West interrupting Taylor swift, the VMAs have consistently generated headlines and sparked conversations. The awards continue to be a platform for artists to push boundaries and connect with their fans. Understanding the history of the vmas* provides context for the current show’s meaning.

VMA trends: What to Expect in Future Shows

Looking ahead, several trends are likely to shape the future