Lady Gaga emerged as the top winner at the MTV Video Music Awards held at New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday night.
She secured four honors, including the prestigious Artist of the Year award, making her the most celebrated artist of the evening.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter followed closely, each taking home three awards and cementing their status as major forces in pop music.
Gaga’s appearance was one of the night’s highlights. The Artist of the Year presentation, typically a climactic moment, was moved up in the program to fit her schedule. She was headlining a show nearby at Madison Square Garden, which was delayed by about an hour to allow her to attend the VMAs before heading to the stage.
Video of the year
Ariana Grande accepts the Video of the Year Award for Brighter Days Ahead onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – WINNERROSÉ and Bruno Mars – “APT.”Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Artist of the year
Lady Gaga accepts the Artist of the Year award from Lenny Kravitz on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sept. 7, 2025. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Lady Gaga – WINNERBad BunnyBeyoncéKendrick LamarMorgan Wallen
Best new artist
Alex Warren wins the Best New Artist Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV
Alex Warren – WINNERElla LangleyGigi PerezLola YoungsombrThe Marías
Latin Icon Award
Ricky Martin accepts the “Latin Icon Award” during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MTV
Ricky Martin – WINNER
Best country
Megan Moroney attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – WINNERChris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You”Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You”Jelly Roll – “Liar”Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU”Morgan Wallen – “Smile”
Song of the year
Rose accepts the Song of the Year Award for “APT” with Bruno Mars onstage during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – “APT.” – WINNERAlex Warren – “Ordinary”Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”Doechii – “Anxiety”Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry”Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”Lorde – “What Was That”Tate McRae – “Sports Car”The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Best R&B
Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – WINNERChris Brown – “Residuals”Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)”PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l”Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman”SZA – “Drive”The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Video Vanguard Award
Mariah Carey accepts the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from Ariana Grande during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Manny Carabel/Getty Images for MTV
Mariah Carey – WINNER
Best alternative
Sombr – “Back to Friends” – WINNERGigi Perez – “Sailor Song”Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up”Lola Young – “Messy”mgk and Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road”The Marías – “Back to Me”
Song of summer
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching” – WINNERAddison Rae – “Headphones On”Alex Warren – “Ordinary”Benson Boone – “Mystical Magical”Chappell Roan – “The Subway”BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”Sombr – “12 to 12″Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”Ravyn Lenae ft. Rex Orange County – “Love Me Not”Morgan Wallen ft. Tate McRae – “What I Want”Demi Lovato – “Fast”Doja Cat – “Jealous Type”Jessie Murph – “Blue Strips”Justin Bieber – “Daisies”MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max (FLY)” (Remix)HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI – “Golden”
Rock the Bells Visionary Award
Busta Rhymes reacts as he receives the Rock the Bells Visionary Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, New York, Sept. 7, 2025. Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Busta Rhymes
PUSH Performance of the Year
Megan Skiendiel, Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeong, Sophia Laforteza, and Lara Raj of “Katseye”, winners of the MTV Push Performance Of The Year Award for “Touch” pose in the press room during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Katseye – “Touch” – WINNERShaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”Mark Ambor – “Belong Together”Lay Bankz – “Graveyard”Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye”Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI”Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS”Livingston – “Shadow”Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”Damiano David – “Next Summer”Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
Best K-pop
LISA ft. Doja Cat and RAYE – “Born Again” – WINNERaespa – “Whiplash”JENNIE – “like JENNIE”Jimin – “Who”JISOO – “earthquake”ROSÉ – “toxic till the end”Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom”
Best Afrobeats
Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – WINNERAsake and Travis Scott – “Active”Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa”Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY)” (Remix)Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)”Tems ft. Asake – “Get It Right”Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece Of My Heart”
Best album
Sabrina Carpenter, winner of the Best Album Award for “Short n’ Sweet” attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York. Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV
Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet” – WINNERBad Bunny- “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”Kendrick Lamar – “GNX”Lady Gaga – “Mayhem”Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Best collaboration
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – WINNERBailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “luther”Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – “APT.”Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Sunset Blvd”
Best pop
Ariana Grande accepts the award for best pop for “Brighter Days Ahead” during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.Charles Sykes/Invision via AP
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – WINNERAlex Warren – “Ordinary”Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – “APT.”Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Best hip-hop
Doechii – “Anxiety” – WINNERDrake – “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 pop artist
Sabrina Carpenter – WINNERAriana GrandeTate McRaeCharli xcxJustin BieberLordeMiley Cyrus
Best Latin
Shakira – “Soltera” – WINNERBad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”J Balvin – “Rio”KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”Peso Pluma and Netón Vega – “LA PATRULLA”Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos – “Khé?”
Best group
Blackpink – WINNERaespaAll Time LowBackstreet BoysColdplayEvanescenceFuerza RegidaGrupo FronteraJonas BrothersImagine DragonsKatseye My Chemical RomanceSeventeenStray KidsThe MaríasTwenty One Pilots
Best rock
Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE” – WINNEREvanescence – “Afterlife”Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard”Lenny Kravitz – “Honey”Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine”Twenty One Pilots – “The Contract”
