The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, opened with a wave of nominations and several early winners as the live broadcast unfolded. Lady Gaga led the pack with 12 nominations, followed by Bruno Mars with 11 and Kendrick Lamar with 10. LL Cool J served as host for the ceremony, which aired on CBS and MTV and streamed on Paramount+.
Organizers announced a number of special and early-category awards before and during the live telecast. Rapper Busta Rhymes received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin was named the first MTV Latin Icon, honors presented to artists for long-running influence and boundary-breaking work in their genres. In the competitive categories, Alex Warren was declared Best New Artist, Mariah Carey won Best R&B for "Type Dangerous," and sombr took Best Alternative for "back to friends."
Nomination tallies underscored the evening’s major contenders. Gaga’s 12 nominations included top categories such as Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Album. Bruno Mars, whose collaboration with Gaga on "Die with a Smile" produced multiple nods, followed closely with 11 nominations. Kendrick Lamar picked up 10 nominations, while Sabrina Carpenter and BLACKPINK member Rosé each received eight. Ariana Grande and The Weeknd had seven nominations apiece, and Billie Eilish had six.
Key category fields mixed established stars and rising acts. Video of the Year nominees included Ariana Grande for "brighter days ahead," Billie Eilish for "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," Kendrick Lamar for "Not Like Us," Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars for "Die with a Smile," ROSÉ and Bruno Mars for "APT.," Sabrina Carpenter for "Manchild," and The Weeknd with Playboi Carti for "Timeless." Artist of the Year nominees spanned Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.
Other categories showcased cross-genre collaborations and international acts. Best Pop contenders ranged from Ariana Grande and Charli xcx to Justin Bieber and Lorde; Best Hip-Hop included Doechii, Drake and Eminem featuring Jelly Roll; Best Latin nominees featured Bad Bunny, J Balvin, KAROL G, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos and Shakira; and Best K-Pop included aespa, JENNIE, Jimin, JISOO, LISA, Stray Kids and ROSÉ.
The VMAs also recognized technical and creative categories: Best Direction nominees featured Ariana Grande, Charli xcx, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga; Best Art Direction and Best Editing fields highlighted Charli xcx, Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga among others; and Best Visual Effects included entries from Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd. Best Album contenders ranged from Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem and Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem.
Early winners and special honorees reflected both legacy and emerging influence. Busta Rhymes’ Rock the Bells Visionary Award acknowledged his decades-long impact on hip-hop; Ricky Martin’s MTV Latin Icon Award marked a formal recognition by MTV of artists who have shaped Latin music’s global reach. Alex Warren’s Best New Artist win signaled strong viewer engagement for newcomers, while Mariah Carey’s R&B victory underscored a continuing presence for long-established artists across awards categories.
MTV officials and producers framed the 2025 show as a celebration of cross-genre collaboration and global music currents, citing a mix of mainstream pop, hip-hop, Latin, K-pop and Afrobeats among the nominees. The awards continued to spotlight visual innovation in music with long-form videos, choreography and technical categories drawing entries from a wide range of established and rising artists.
As the ceremony proceeded, additional winners were announced throughout the broadcast. MTV planned to update the full list of nominees and winners on its platforms following the show to reflect the night's final results.
Reporting from the red carpet highlighted high-profile arrivals and collaborations that underscored the nominations: Lady Gaga’s heavy nomination presence, Bruno Mars’ multiple nods tied to collaborations, and cross-genre entries from artists such as Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and ROSÉ. The 2025 VMAs continued the awards’ tradition of mixing live performance, award presentations and moments intended to generate social media conversation and industry attention.