Jack Osbourne attended the MTV Video Music Awards with his children Sunday night to honor his late father, rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, a family moment that drew attention amid a ceremony packed with high-profile winners and tributes.
Osbourne’s appearance with his children came as the show recognized achievements across pop, rock, hip-hop and global genres. The ceremony awarded artists ranging from established superstars to rising talents in a program that combined performances, prize announcements and special honors.
Ariana Grande won the top prize, Video of the Year, for "Brighter Days Ahead," while Lady Gaga was named Artist of the Year and collected multiple awards. Gaga and Bruno Mars’s collaboration "Die With a Smile" won Best Collaboration, one of several wins for Gaga across creative and technical categories.
Sabrina Carpenter had a strong night, taking Best Album for Short n’ Sweet and Best Pop Artist, and was credited with multiple wins overall. Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year for "Apt.," and Alex Warren was named Best New Artist, marking him as one of the breakout acts recognized on the broadcast.
Tate McRae earned two Moon Persons, winning Song of the Summer for "Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)" and Best Editing for the same video. Other notable category winners included Coldplay for Best Rock with "All My Love" and Tyla for Best Afrobeats with "Push 2 Start." Blackpink was named Best Group.
The show also honored veterans of the music business. Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, her first VMA Vanguard honor, while Ricky Martin was presented with the Latin Icon Award and Busta Rhymes received the Rock The Bells Visionary Award.
The VMAs continued their pattern of spotlighting genre diversity and cross-genre collaborations. Awards across R&B, hip-hop, alternative and international categories recognized both mainstream chart-toppers and artists rising from regional and digital platforms. Lady Gaga’s multiple wins underscored her prominence in several creative categories, and Grande’s Video of the Year victory marked a major recognition for a project that dominated the evening’s nominations.
Organizers and presenters highlighted both artistic achievement and moments of remembrance. Osbourne’s tribute to his father occurred alongside performances and acceptance speeches that balanced celebration of current pop culture with acknowledgments of legacy acts and industry impact. The mix of new winners and lifetime honors reflected the show’s continued role in mapping the industry’s shifting landscape while commemorating long-standing contributions.
Full lists of nominees and winners across all categories were released by the event and reflected an awards slate that combined fan-driven categories with juried decisions in technical and creative fields. The ceremony also included visual and performance elements that drew attention for production design, direction and choreography, categories that awarded a range of artists from established names to newer talents.
The MTV Video Music Awards remain one of the season’s major industry showcases, pairing red-carpet moments with awards that often forecast trends and careers to watch in the months ahead. This year’s program married personal tributes, high-profile honors and a wide array of genre winners in a single evening of performances and presentations.