The 2025 MTV VMAs will honor a select group of iconic artists including Mariah Carey, who will receive the Video Vanguard Award to celebrate her decades of groundbreaking music videos. Also receiving career honors at the 2025 MTV VMAs are Ricky Martin, who will receive the Latin Icon Award, and Busta Rhymes, who will be honored with the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
Lady Gaga leads this year’s nominees with 12, including nominations in the video of the year, artist of the year and best album categories. She is followed by Bruno Mars with 11; Kendrick Lamar with 10; and ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter, tied with eight each.
It marks the third time the “Abracadabra” singer has led VMA nominations, having previously done it in 2010 with 13 nods and in 2020 when she tied with nine.
What time are the 2025 MTV VMAs?
The VMAs Pre-Show, hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney, with a special performance by Katseye, will start at 7 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. PT.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
SONG OF THE YEAR
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Lorde – “What Was That”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Tate McRae – “Sports Car”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
BEST NEW ARTIST
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
sombr
The Marías
BEST POP ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Charli xcx
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
BEST ALBUM
Bad Bunny- “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”
Kendrick Lamar – “GNX”
Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet”
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
BEST COLLABORATION
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd”
BEST POP
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
BEST HIP-HOP
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Drake – “NOKIA”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me”
GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
LL COOL J ft. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux”
Travis Scott – “4X4”
BEST R&B
Chris Brown – “Residuals”
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)”
Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l”
Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”
SZA – “Drive”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”