by The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were an incredible event that brought together the biggest names in music for a night of heartfelt speeches, thrilling performances, and well-earned awards.
Rap icon LL Cool J hosted the event, which took place on September 7, 2025, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, and he kept the mood lively the entire time. The VMAs 2025 winners featured a wide range of genres, from pop and hip-hop to country and K-pop, with Lady Gaga leading the pack as the most nominated artist (12 nods) and winning four trophies.
The notable winners, which represented the changing face of international music, included Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and ROSÉ with Bruno Mars.
You’re in the right place if you’re looking for the VMAs 2025 winners list. This in-depth blog post explores what made this year’s ceremony unforgettable, breaks down each category, and highlights the most memorable moments. We’ll go over everything in detail, whether you’re a devoted fan reliving the event or just checking in on who won what. Let’s explore the 2025 VMA winners and more!
The VMAs 2025 Buzz: What Made This Year Unique
Let’s set the scene before we reveal the complete list of VMAs 2025 winners. With the addition of two thrilling new categories—Best Pop Artist and Best Country—the 2025 VMAs celebrated music videos and songs that were released between June 20, 2024, and June 18, 2025. These additions provided pop stars with a dedicated spotlight and demonstrated the increasing prominence of country music in mainstream awards. Nessa and Kevan Kenney hosted a pre-show that aired on MTV and sister networks prior to the event, which was televised on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Kendrick Lamar (10), ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter (eight each), Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (seven each), and Lady Gaga dominated the nominations. With special recognitions like the Latin Icon Award for Ricky Martin, the Rock the Bells Visionary Award for Busta Rhymes, and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for Mariah Carey, the evening was a celebration of innovation rather than merely competition. Fans were reminded of the rich history of music by these tributes, which infused the event with layers of respect and nostalgia.
Pushing boundaries has always been a theme of the VMAs, and 2025 was no different. With its groundbreaking partnerships and moving acceptance speeches, the ceremony encapsulated the spirit of the modern music business. Let’s get right to the point: the 2025 VMA winners.
Full List of 2025 VMA Winners
This is a comprehensive list of the VMAs 2025 winners, gathered from reports and official announcements. For ease of reading, we have arranged it by category and, where available, have included nominees to provide background information on the difficult competition. For ease of scanning, winners are bolded. There was an additional level of excitement as votes poured in before and during the show because some categories were fan-voted.
Burger King’s “Video of the Year”
This esteemed prize is given to the year’s most influential music video.
Ariana Grande’s “brighter days ahead” was the winner.
“APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, and “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are the nominees.
One of the highlights of Ariana Grande’s victory was her futuristic, emotionally charged video, which resonated with both critics and fans.
Artist of the Year honoring the year’s overall influence on an artist.
Lady Gaga was the winner.
The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Bad Bunny are among the nominees.
With numerous hits and avant-garde visuals, Lady Gaga’s dominance was indisputable and solidified her place as a pop icon.
Song of the Year for the song that summed up the year.
Bruno Mars and ROSÉ won with “APT.”
Nominees include Ed Sheeran’s “Sapphire,” Doechii’s “Anxiety,” Billie Eilish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” and Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams Lorde’s “What Was That” and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” “Sports Car” by Tate McRae “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti.
This catchy collaboration, which combined funk and K-pop flair, went viral.
Rising stars are highlighted in Best New Artist.
Alex Warren was the winner.
Ella Langley, Gigi Perez, Lola Young, Sombr, and the Marías are the nominees.
Alex Warren won this groundbreaking award because of his heartfelt ballads.
Top Pop Performer (New Category)
Pop excellence is recognized with a fan-voted award.
Sabrina Carpenter was the winner.
Tate McRae is one of the nominees, along with other people mentioned in reports.
Sabrina stood out in pop thanks to her catchy lyrics and contagious energy.
Top Hip-Hop
For hip-hop and rap’s finest.
Doechii’s “Anxiety” was the winner.
The field of nominees is competitive and includes Kendrick Lamar tracks, though it is not entirely detailed.
Doechii’s unvarnished, reflective song effectively tackled mental health.
Top R&B
honoring feelings of the soul.
Mariah Carey’s “Type Dangerous” won.
“Residuals” by Chris Brown, “MUTT (REMIX)” by Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs, “N o C h i l l” by PARTYNEXTDOOR, “Heart Of A Woman” by Summer Walker, “Drive” by SZA, and “Timeless” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti are the nominees.
Mariah’s triumphant comeback combined traditional R&B with a contemporary twist.
The best substitute for alternative and indie music.
Sombr’s “Back to Friends” was the winner.
The Marías’ “Back to Me,” Imagine Dragons’ “Wake Up,” Lola Young’s “Messy,” Mgk and Jelly Roll’s “Lonely Road,” and Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” are the nominees.
In this eclectic category, Sombr’s eerie melody stood out.
Best Country (New Category): Emphasizing the nation’s rise to prominence.
Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” won.
Chris Stapleton’s “Think I’m In Love With You” is one of the nominees. “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood “Liar” by Jelly Roll Morgan Wallen’s “Smile” and Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU”
Nationwide, country fans responded favorably to Megan’s poignant ballad.
Top K-Pop for K-pop hits around the world.
Winner: Lisa’s “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat and Raye.
Aespa (Whiplash), Jennie (Like Jennie), Jimin (Who), Jisoo (Earthquake), Stray Kids (Chk Chk Boom), and Rosé (Toxic Till the End) are the nominees.
K-pop reached new heights thanks to this star-studded collaboration.
The Summer Song
Fan-voted for the best summer anthem.
Tate McRae’s “Just Keep Watching” won.
Among the nominees are Sabrina Carpenter from “Manchild,” Addison Rae from “Headphones On,” Alex Warren from “Ordinary,” Benson Boone from “Mystical Magical,” and Chappell Roan from “The Subway.”
Tate’s upbeat song was ideal for playlists in the summer.
For outstanding performances, PUSH Performance of the Year is awarded.
Katseye’s “Touch” was the winner.
Ayra Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song,” Mark Ambor’s “Belong Together,” Lay Bankz’s “Graveyard,” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and others are among the nominees.
Katseye’s first appearance caused a stir. Special Awards
Michael Jackson Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, which Ariana Grande presented.
Ricky Martin received the Latin Icon Award; Busta Rhymes received the Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
These awards honored the enduring influence of legends.
With Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter each taking home multiple awards, this VMAs 2025 winners list reflects a mix of well-known performers and up-and-coming artists.
Amazing Performances at the 2025 VMAs
Without the performances, which frequently steal the show, no discussion of the VMAs would be complete. The lineup for 2025 was stacked:
Starting with “Jealous Type,” Doja Cat and Kenny G combined rap and sax to create a distinctive sound.
Ricky Martin received his special award for his Latin Icon Medley, which featured hits like “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “The Cup of Life.”
Tate McRae showed off her dancing skills with performances of “Sports Car” and “Revolving Door.”
The Rock the Bells Visionary was honored by Busta Rhymes and guests with a medley of timeless songs, including “Break Ya Neck.”
Sabrina Carpenter gave “Tears” a depth of feeling.
The German song “Losers” was pre-recorded by Post Malone and Jelly Roll.
“Fantasy,” “Honey,” and “We Belong Together” were all part of Mariah Carey’s epic Video Vanguard Medley, which also included elements of “Type Dangerous.”
Lady Gaga gave live performances of “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” at Madison Square Garden.
“Eternity” and “Ordinary” were performed by Alex Warren.
On “Crazy Train” and other songs, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Nuno Bettencourt paid homage to Ozzy Osbourne.
Somber sang “Back to Friends,” Conan Gray closed with “Vodka Cranberry,” and J Balvin and his guests energized the audience with “Zun Zun” and “Noventa.”
Megan Moroney (“6 Months Later”), Bailey Zimmerman and The Kid Laroi (“Lost”), and Lola Young (“Messy”) were among the performers on the Extended Play Stage. Katseye performed “Gnarly” and “Gabriela” during the pre-show.
In addition to providing entertainment, these sets contributed to the 2025 VMA winners, as numerous performers won awards.
Highlights and Notable Events from the 2025 VMAs
There were many noteworthy moments from the evening that went viral:
In her speech, Ariana Grande cited Mariah Carey as an inspiration, so it was a full circle moment when she gave her the Video Vanguard.
A tech-savvy twist was added by Lady Gaga’s remote performance from MSG, highlighting her inventiveness.
In keeping with his Visionary Award, Busta Rhymes’ medley honored the origins of hip-hop.
Ricky Martin’s Latin medley highlighted the VMAs’ global reach while celebrating diversity.
emotional triumphs, such as Alex Warren’s Best New Artist speech, in which he expressed gratitude to his fans for helping him get through difficult times.
Dramatic fan voting, particularly for Best New Artist, went on until the end of the ceremony.
Another highlight was the red carpet fashion, where celebrities like Lady Gaga channeled gothic glamour and Sabrina Carpenter wore a daring, glittery ensemble. With winners like Doechii tackling anxiety in their work, the event also spurred discussions about mental health.
With a wide range of sounds and tales represented among the winners, the VMAs 2025 served as a reminder of music’s ability to inspire and bring people together.
The Significance of the VMAs 2025 Winners A Closer Exam
Beyond the glamour, the 2025 VMA winners predict musical trends. Cross-genre fusions are here to stay, as evidenced by the popularity of collaborations like Bruno Mars’ “APT.” and ROSÉ. Megan Moroney’s victory increased the number of women in country music, and new categories like Best Country recognize genres that were previously disregarded.
While breakthroughs like Alex Warren demonstrate the importance of social media in launching careers, Lady Gaga’s four victories highlight her ongoing relevance. The legacy of R&B was brought to light by Mariah Carey’s Vanguard Award, while Lisa’s victory underscored the global influence of K-pop.
For fans, these victories are more than just awards; they are recognition of the dedication of their favorite musicians. If you’re moved, listen to the winning songs on streaming services to feel the magic for yourself.
Concluding the 2025 VMA Winners
Great winners, incredible performances, and moments that will be remembered for years were all highlights of the 2025 MTV VMAs. The VMAs 2025 winners list reflects a thriving year in music, from Lady Gaga’s victory as Artist of the Year to Ariana Grande’s victory as Video of the Year. Replays of the live show are available on Paramount+, so don’t miss it!
Which VMAs 2025 moment was your favorite? Leave a comment below, and check back soon for additional music award analyses. Bookmark this page for the most recent information on the 2025 and future VMA winners!
