The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday, September 7, at UBS Arena in New York, where stars of global music gathered to celebrate another year of achievements. The evening saw standout wins for Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, ROSÉ and BLACKPINK, alongside special honours for legends Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes.
Lady Gaga, already a multiple VMA winner, entered the night with 12 nominations and left as the top victor. She picked up artist of the year, best art direction, best direction and best collaboration for her Bruno Mars duet Die With a Smile.
Ariana Grande also enjoyed a strong showing with three wins, including video of the year for Brighter Days Ahead. Sabrina Carpenter matched her haul with three trophies of her own, while ROSÉ triumphed with Bruno Mars for APT.. BLACKPINK’s LISA secured best K-pop, and the group as a whole was named best group.
Mariah Carey received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, Ricky Martin became the first-ever recipient of the Latin Icon Award and Busta Rhymes was recognised with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Each performed a medley of their greatest hits.
Full List of 2025 MTV VMA Winners
- Video of the Year – Ariana Grande, Brighter Days Ahead
- Artist of the Year – Lady Gaga
- Song of the Year – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, APT.
- MTV Push Performance of the Year – KATSEYE, Touch
- Best New Artist – Alex Warren
- Best Collaboration – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Die With a Smile
- Best Pop – Ariana Grande, Brighter Days Ahead
- Best Pop Artist – Sabrina Carpenter
- Best Hip-Hop – Doechii, Anxiety
- Best R&B – Mariah Carey, Type Dangerous
- Best Alternative – sombr, Back to Friends
- Best Rock – Coldplay, All My Love
- Best Latin – Shakira, Soltera
- Best K-pop – Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, Born Again
- Best Afrobeats – Tyla, Push 2 Start
- Best Country – Megan Moroney, Am I Okay?
- Best Album – Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
- Best Longform Video – Ariana Grande, Brighter Days Ahead
- Best Art Direction – Lady Gaga, Abracadabra
- Best Cinematography – Kendrick Lamar, Not Like Us
- Best Editing – Tate McRae, Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)
- Best Choreography – Doechii, Anxiety
- Best Visual Effects – Sabrina Carpenter, Manchild
- Song of the Summer – Tate McRae, Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)
- Video for Good – Charli xcx ft. Billie Eilish, Guess
- Best Group – BLACKPINK
