MTV Reveals Winners for 2025 VMAs

Photo Credit: CBS

MTV’s awards show celebrated the best music videos of the year, with Lady Gaga netting the most noms. LL Cool J hosted the 2025 edition.

MTV’s star-studded Video Music Awards took place on Sunday night at the UBS Arena in New York, featuring performances from artists like Doja Cat, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, and Sabrina Carpenter. But the night also included its share of surprises, including a live f-bomb and a touching tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

Lady Gaga, who performed from Madison Square Garden, was the most nominated artist of the night with 12 awards, including Artist of the Year, Best Album, and Video of the Year. Ariana Grande secured the night’s top prize. Other top nominees included Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Rosé, and Sabrina Carpenter.

Mariah Carey was honored with a coveted Video Vanguard Award—as well as her first-ever VMA win for Best R&B. Meanwhile, Busta Rhymes received the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, while Ricky Martin was awarded the Latin Icon trophy. Both Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin took to the stage for some thrilling performances.

Other artists to hit the stage on Sunday included Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll, Alex Warren, J Balvin and DJ Snake, sombr, Conan Gray, Doja Cat, and Post Malone. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, and Nuno Bettencourt came together for a show-stopping tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July.

During Ariana Grande’s brief acceptance speech for the Video of the Year Award, she hinted at a return to the road with a cheeky “we’ll see you on tour.” The superstar, who also secured the award for Best Pop for “brighter days ahead,” has been focusing on her acting career as of late with Wicked, the film adaptation of the Broadway play (and book) of the same name.

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” (Republic Records)

Artist of the Year

• Lady Gaga (Interscope Records)

Song of the Year

• Rosé & Bruno Mars – “APT.” (Atlantic Records)

Best New Artist

• Alex Warren (Atlantic Records)

Best Pop Artist

• Sabrina Carpenter (Island Records)

MTV Push Performance of the Year

• KATSEYE – “Touch” (Hybe/Geffen Records)

Best Collaboration

• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” (Interscope Records)

Best Pop

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” (Republic Records)

Best Hip-Hop

• Doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)

Best R&B

• Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” (gamma.)

Best Alternative

• sombr – “back to friends” (SMB Music/Warner Records)

Best Rock

• Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE” (Atlantic Records)

Best Latin

• Shakira – “Soltera” (Sony Music US Latin)

Best Afrobeats

• Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” (FAX Records/Epic Records)

Best K-Pop

• Lisa ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again” (Lloud Co./RCA Records)

Best Country

Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” (Columbia Records)

Best Album

• Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet” (Island Records)

Best Long Form Video

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” (Republic Records)

Video for Good

• Charli XCX – “Guess (ft. Billie Eilish)” (Atlantic Records)

Best Direction

• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Records)

Best Cinematography

• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (pgLang/Interscope Records)

Best Editing

• Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)” (Atlantic Records)

Best Choreography

• Doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)

Best Visual Effects

• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” (Island Records)

Best Art Direction

• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Records)

Best Group

Song of the Summer

• Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)” (Atlantic Records)

Video Vanguard

MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award

Latin Icon Award