The winners of the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards have been unveiled, marking another memorable night in global music.
The 42nd edition of the annual VMAs took place on September 7, 2025, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, with legendary rapper LL Cool J steering the star-studded show as host.
Lady Gaga, who led this year’s nominations with 12 nods, dominated the evening, collecting four awards, including the highly coveted Artist of the Year.
The ceremony also shone a spotlight on music icons. Mariah Carey was finally presented with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, while Busta Rhymes made history as the first recipient of the Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Latin pop legend Ricky Martin was celebrated with the inaugural Latin Icon Award.
In the competitive categories, several standout moments defined the night. Ariana Grande triumphed with Video of the Year and Best Pop for her hit “Brighter Days Ahead.” Rosé and Bruno Mars claimed Song of the Year with their collaboration “APT.” Alex Warren’s rise was recognized as he earned Best New Artist. Sabrina Carpenter walked away with Best Album for Short n’ Sweet, and South Africa’s Tyla scored big internationally by winning Best Afrobeats.
The event once again highlighted the diversity and reach of global music, blending legacy honors with new-age triumphs.
Here’s a list of the winners:
Video of the Year, Presented by Burger King
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Artist of the Year
Lady Gaga
Song of the Year
Rosé & Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Best New Artist
Alex Warren
Best Pop Artist
Sabrina Carpenter
MTV Push Performance of the Year
January 2025: KATSEYE, “Touch”
Best Collaboration
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Best Pop
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Best Hip-Hop
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Best R&B
Mariah Carey, “Type Dangerous”
Best Alternative
Sombr, “Back to Friends”
Best Rock
Coldplay, “All My Love”
Best Latin
Shakira, “Soltera”
Best K-Pop
Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, “Born Again”
Best Afrobeats
Tyla, “Push 2 Start”
Best Country
Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?”
Best Album
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet”
Best Longform Video
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Best Group
BLACKPINK
Song of the Summer
Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)”
Video for Good
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Best Direction
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Best Art Direction
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Best Cinematography
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Best Editing
Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching (From F1: The Movie)”
Best Choreography
Doechii, “Anxiety”
Best Visual Effects
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
KATSEYE – “Touch”
BEST COLLABORATION
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
BEST HIP-HOP
Doechii – “Anxiety”
BEST R&B
Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
BEST ALTERNATIVE
sombr – “back to friends”
BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “All My Love”
BEST AFROBEATS
Tyla – “PUSH 2 START”
BEST COUNTRY
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
BEST ALBUM
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
BEST K-POP
LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again”
BEST LATIN
Shakira – “Soltera“
SONG OF SUMMER
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching”
BEST GROUP
BLACKPINK
BEST LONG FORM VIDEO
Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish
BEST DIRECTION
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
BEST EDITING
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching”
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Doechii – “Anxiety”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
BEST ART DIRECTION
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
MTV VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD
Mariah Carey
LATIN ICON AWARD
Ricky Martin