What Happened At The VMA 2025? List of Nominees and Winners

VMA 2025 Highlights: Full List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) 2025 was held for the 42nd time on September 7, 2025, at the UBS Arena in New York. It was broadcast live on MTV, UBS, and Paramount+. Stars lit up the red carpet, including Tyla in a mini Chanel dress with gold accessories, Sabrina Carpenter in a fiery red gown, Katseye, Andrey Nuna, EJAE, and Rei Ami representing Huntrix from K-pop group Demon Hunters.

The night also featured powerful performances from Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Balvin with DJ Snake, Alex Warren, Conan Gray, Jelly Roll, Sombre, Tate McRae, The Kid LAROI with Bailey Zimmerman, Lola Young, Megan Moroney, and YUNGBLUD, who delivered a moving tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

Now, let’s dive into the full list of nominees and winners at the VMAs 2025.

Artist of The Year Award

The Nominees are:

1. The Weekend
2. Beyonce
3. Lady Gaga
4. Taylor Swift
5. Kendrick Lamar
6. Margan Wallen
7. Winner – Lady Gaga

Best Pop Artist

The Nominees are:

1. Charli XCX

2. Sabrina Carpenter

3. Tate Mcrae

4. Justin Bieber

5. Lorde 

6. Miley Cyrus

7. Winner – Sabrina Carpenter

Best Hip Hop

The Nominees are:

1. Nokia by Drake
2. 4×4 by Travis Scott
3. Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar
4. Whatchu kno about me by Glorilla and sexyy red
5. Murdergram Deux by LL Cool and Eminem
6. Anxiety by Doechii
7. Somebody save me by Eminem and Jelly roll
8. Winner – Anxiety by Doechii

Best Collaboration

The Nominees are:

1. Back Up Plan by Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs.

2. Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

3. Pour me a drink by Post Malone and Blake Shelton.

4. Sunset BLVD by Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco.

5. APT by Rose and Bruno Mars.

6. Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

7. Winner- Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

Video of the Year

The Nominees are:

1. Birds of a Feather by Bille Ellish 

2. Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar

3. Mandchild by SabrinaCarpenter

4. Better Days Ahead by Ariana Grande

5. Timeless by The Weekend

6. Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

7. APT by Rose and Bruno Mars

8. Winner- Brighter days ahead by Ariana Grande

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Best Album

The Nominees are:

1. DTMF by Bad Bunny

2. Mayhem by Lady Gaga

3. Short and Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

4. Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weekend

5. I’m the problem by Morgan Wallen

6. Winner – Short and Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

Full List of Categories and Winners

1. Back to Friends by Sombre -Best alternative.
2. Alex Warren – Best new artist
3. Mariah Carey’s for Type of Dangerous – Best R&B
4. Born again by Lisa, Ray and Doja cat – Best K-pop
5. Just keep watching by Tate McRae – Song of the summer
6. Push to start by Tyla- Best Afrobeat
7. Lady Gaga – Artist of the year
8. Am I Okay by Meaghan Trainor – Best country
9. APT by Rose and Bruno Mars – Best song of the year
10. Katseye live performance of Touch – Best push performance
11. Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award
12. Sabrina Carpenter’s short and sweet – won best album
13. Ariana Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead – Best pop video
14. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars for die with a smile – Best collection
15. Anxiety by Doechii – Best hip hop
16. All My Love by Coldplay – Best rock
17. Sultry by Shakira – Best Latin
18. Abracadabra by Lady Gaga – Best Art Direction
19. Guest by CharliXCX and Billie Eilish – Video for good
20. Blackpink – Best group
21. Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter won – Best visual
22. Kendrick Lamar for Not Like Us – Best cinematography effects
23. Ariana Grande Brighter days ahead- Best long-form video
24. Sabrina Carpenter – Best Pop Artist

Rose from Blackpink became the first K-pop artist in history to win Song of the Year with her viral hit song APT featuring Bruno Mars. APT since its release has been winning multiple awards for its catchy lyrics and playful vibes, making it a hit song across various platforms. Have you listened to APT before? Well, it’s your chance to give it a try now.

Sabrina Carpenter gave a powerful performance at the VMAs 2025, debuting her new song Tears in support of transgender rights. She also took the stage with RuPaul’s Drag Race, where dancers held up bold signs reading “Trans We Trust”, “Protect Trans Rights”, “Protect the Dolls”, and “Support Drag”. To end the act, she performed under dramatic showers of rain, creating one of the night’s most iconic moments.

By the end of the night, Lady Gaga won 4 awards, while Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande each took home 3 awards. The evening also celebrated Mariah Carey, who received the prestigious Vanguard Award. Congratulations to all the winners!

Cover image is gotten from Twitter