On September 7, 2025, the MTV Video Music Awards descended on the UBS Arena in New York, delivering a night brimming with showstopping wins, electrifying performances, and unforgettable cultural moments. Hosted by the iconic LL Cool J, the ceremony marked its first-ever broadcast on CBS, with streaming available via Paramount+ and simulcast on MTV.

Star of the Night: Lady Gaga

Leading the pack with a staggering 12 nominations, Lady Gaga ended the night with four trophies, making her the most awarded artist of the evening. Among her victories were:

• Artist of the Year
• Best Collaboration for “Die With a Smile” alongside Bruno Mars.

Video of the Year & Pop Domination

Ariana Grande soared to victory with Video of the Year for her luminous performance piece “Brighter Days Ahead”, a win that solidified her comeback in grand style. She also snagged Best Pop, marking a double triumph for the night.

Historic Wins & Global Stars

• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars won Song of the Year with their track “APT.”, making ROSÉ the first K-pop soloist to claim this honor.
• The Best New Artist Moon Person went to Alex Warren.
• Sabrina Carpenter stole the spotlight with wins for Best Pop Artist, Best Album (“Short n’ Sweet”), and Best Visual Effects.

Genre-Wide Wins Reflecting Global Reach

The diversity of the night’s winners truly shone:

• Tyla’s “Push 2 Start” won Best Afrobeats, continuing her trailblazing presence in the genre.
• Megan Moroney earned the new Best Country trophy with “Am I Okay?”.
• Other genre winners included Coldplay for Best Rock, Shakira for Best Latin, and Lisa (featuring Doja Cat and Raye) for Best K-Pop.
• Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and Charli XCX also earned top genre and technical accolades.

Honoring Legends

Awards for enduring influence were highlights:

• Mariah Carey, accepted her first-ever VMA, the Video Vanguard Award, in a show-stealing moment.
• Ricky Martin received MTV’s inaugural Latin Icon Award.
• Legendary rapper Busta Rhymes was honored with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award.

Performance Highlights & Cultural Moments

Beyond trophies, the night was full of standout performances by Doja Cat, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and more. The awards also featured bold visual statements—Sabrina Carpenter’s telephone-booth tribute to Britney Spears and water-dance onstage aimed to disrupt norms while celebrating inclusion.

A Night Defined by Female Empowerment and Diversity

With 22 of 30 awards going to female artists, the ceremony spotlighted both emerging voices and veteran icons across global genres, reaffirming the VMAs as a stage for inclusivity and artistic innovation.