Ariana Grande took home Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards for Brighter Days Ahead and drew attention onstage for four quick wardrobe changes and an acceptance speech in which she thanked her therapist and “gay people.” Grande’s long‑form visual project also won the award for Best Long Form Video, reinforcing the project’s prominence at the ceremony.
The VMAs highlighted a broad slate of winners across genres. Lady Gaga was named Artist of the Year and led multiple category victories, including Best Collaboration for her pairing with Bruno Mars on Die With a Smile. Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year for Apt., and Alex Warren was named Best New Artist.
Other notable winners included Doechii, who claimed Best Hip‑Hop and Best Choreography for Anxiety, and Mariah Carey, who received the MTV Video Vanguard Award in recognition of her career. Sabrina Carpenter took home Best Album for Short n’ Sweet and also earned Best Visual Effects for the video Manchild; Carpenter’s wins were part of a three‑award haul. Tate McRae won Best Editing for Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie) and took Song of the Summer for the same entry, marking her first two Moon Person trophies.
Genre winners spanned the globe and a range of styles. Coldplay won Best Rock for All My Love, Shakira won Best Latin for Soltera, Lisa (featuring Doja Cat and Raye) took Best K‑Pop for Born Again, and Tyla won Best Afrobeats for Push 2 Start. Megan Moroney was named Best Country for Am I Okay?. Blackpink was honored as Best Group.
Technical and craft awards recognized work across direction, art direction, cinematography and visual effects. Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra won both Best Direction and Best Art Direction, while Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us won Best Cinematography. Charli XCX’s Guess, featuring Billie Eilish, won Video for Good, a category recognizing videos with social or political themes.
The ceremony also acknowledged veterans of the music industry. Ricky Martin was presented with the Latin Icon Award and Busta Rhymes received the Rock The Bells Visionary Award, both honors that highlight long careers and cultural impact.
Producers and presenters highlighted the show’s mix of mainstream pop moments and recognition for rising artists and international acts. Several winners were tied to ambitious visual projects: Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead earned multiple votes for its scope and production, while other videos were singled out for choreography, editing and visual effects.
Acceptance speeches ranged from brief thanks to pointed acknowledgments of creative teams and personal support systems. Grande’s onscreen wardrobe shifts between appearances drew media attention as part of her presentation; in thanking supporters she singled out her therapist and the LGBTQ+ community. Lady Gaga noted collaborators and her creative team while accepting Artist of the Year.
The VMAs’ awards and special honors reflected a mix of commercial success, critical recognition and industry esteem across categories. Winners from the evening will now carry the visibility of those trophies into upcoming touring, releases and awards season conversations.