The 41st MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place on September 7, 2025, in New York City, with LL Cool J hosting. The show featured big-name performers like Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Warren, and sombr, while presenters included stars such as Ashlee Simpson Ross, Brittany Snow, Ciara, Ice Spice, Jessica Simpson, Latto, Megan Stalter, and more. The show was hosted by LL Cool J and aired live for the first time on CBS.
Doja Cat kicked off the show with a nod to the MTV of old, appearing on a big screen dressed as Max Headroom, a fictional character from the 1980s who was billed as “the world’s first ‘computer-generated’ host.” Kenny G joined her on stage to perform her song “Jealous Type”, making the opening act extra special.
Lady Gaga had the most nominations with 12 and won Artist of the Year, presented by Lenny Kravitz. Part of her Madison Square Garden concert was also shown during the show. Sabrina Carpenter, who won Best Pop and Best Album, performed her new song “Tears” with dancers promoting trans rights and anti-hate messages.
Meanwhile, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, and Busta Rhymes received career achievement awards, while Yungblud and Aerosmith paid tribute to the late rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
Full List of Nominees and Winners:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – WINNER
- 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
- Bad Bunny
- Beyoncé
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga – WINNER
- Morgan Wallen
- Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
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”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – WINNER
- Tate McRae – “Sports Car”
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Alex Warren – WINNER
- Ella Langley
- Gigi Perez
- Lola Young
- sombr
- The Marías
BEST POP
- Ariana Grande
- Charli xcx
- Justin Bieber
- Lorde
- Miley Cyrus
- Sabrina Carpenter – WINNER
- Tate McRae
BEST ALBUM
- Bad Bunny- “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”
- Kendrick Lamar – “GNX”
- Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”
- Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet” – WINNER
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
BEST COLLABORATION
- Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther”
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – WINNER
- Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
- Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd”
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 R&B
- Chris Brown – “Residuals”
- Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)”
- Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – WINNER
- PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l”
- Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”
- SZA – “Drive”
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
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”
- Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?” – WINNER
- Morgan Wallen, “Smile”
BEST K-POP
- Aespa, “Whiplash”
- Jennie, “Like Jennie”
- Jimin, “Who”
- Jisoo, “Earthquake”
- Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, “Born Again” – WINNER
- Stray Kids, “Chk Chk Boom”
- Rosé, “Toxic Till the End”
BEST ROCK
- Coldplay, “All My Love” – WINNER
- 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”
- J Balvin, “Rio”
- Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
- Peso Pluma, “La Patrulla”
- Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khé?”
- Shakira, “Soltera“ – WINNER
BEST GROUP
WINNER: BLACKPINK
- aespa
- KATSEYE
- SEVENTEEN
- Stray Kids
- All Time Low
- Backstreet Boys
- Coldplay
- Evanescence
- Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Frontera
- Imagine Dragons
- Jonas Brothers
- My Chemical Romance
- The Marías
- twenty one pilots
Also Read: Arijit Singh’s Concert In London Ends Abruptly, Leaving Fans Shocked; Know The Reason
