CBS and MTV have revealed the star-studded nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), spotlighting artists whose impact over the past year has reshaped music, pop culture, and the global conversation. The show returns live to New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, airing coast-to-coast on CBS, MTV, and streaming live on Paramount+.
At the top of the list is Lady Gaga, racking up 12 nominations, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best Album. Gaga, already a VMA legend with 18 wins to date, is hoping to extend her reign. This is the third time she’s led the VMA nominations, following her 13 nods in 2010 and a nine-nod tie in 2020.
Bruno Mars follows with 11 nominations, while Kendrick Lamar scores 10. K-pop fans will be thrilled to see ROSÉ of BLACKPINK earn her first solo nominations, a whopping eight total, tying with Sabrina Carpenter, who has had a breakout year across radio, streaming, and TikTok.
Other major names in contention:
- Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (7 each)
- Billie Eilish (6)
- Charli XCX (5)
- Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, Tate McRae (4 each)
In a twist that will keep the BeyHive and Swifties buzzing, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are once again up for Artist of the Year, a category that could tip the scale in their ongoing battle for the most VMAs of all time.
Fan Voting Is Live
Fans can now vote in 19 gender-neutral categories at vote.mtv.com until September 5 at 6 PM ET. The Song of the Year category will be narrowed to six finalists on August 18. Voting for Best New Artist remains open through the night of the show.
Power Hour voting presented by BACARDÍ Rum runs daily from 1-2 PM ET, offering double votes per category through September 4. Additionally, fans can vote for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best New Artist by commenting with artist-specific hashtags on the @VMAs Instagram.
New Categories and First-Time Nominees
2025 marks the introduction of Best Country Artist and Best Pop Artist categories , a nod to the genre-bending landscape of today’s music scene.
A host of artists received their first-ever VMA nominations this year, including:
- JENNIE, Jimin, and JISOO (solo nods)
- Alex Warren, Gigi Perez (3 nods each)
- Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Brent Faiyaz, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Mark Ambor, among others.
Even the late Mac Miller earned a posthumous nod, while emerging acts like MOLIY, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Sasha Alex Sloan round out the list.
VMAs: Still a Pop Culture Powerhouse
Now in its fourth decade, the MTV VMAs continue to deliver the kind of watercooler-worthy moments that define generations. From Madonna’s Like a Virgin to Lil Nas X’s fiery descent from heaven, the VMAs remain the show where artists break boundaries and fans scream in all caps.
Last year’s show saw the biggest multi-network audience in four years and set a new record as the most social VMAs ever, generating 66.7 million interactions across platforms.
2025 VMAs NOMINEES:
Nominees in each category are listed in alphabetical order by first name. (**) = New Category
VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Burger King
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
- Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
- Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
- Kendrick Lamar – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – Interscope Records
- Morgan Wallen – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
- Taylor Swift – Republic Records
- The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records
- Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
- Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry” – Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Records
- Lorde – “What Was That” – Republic Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Tate McRae – “Sports Car” – RCA Records
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Alex Warren – Atlantic Records
- Ella Langley – SAWGOD/Columbia Records
- Gigi Perez – Island
- Lola Young – Island
- sombr – SMB Music/Warner Records
- The Marías – Nice Life/Atlantic Records
BEST POP ARTIST **
- Ariana Grande – Republic Records
- Charli xcx – Atlantic Records
- Justin Bieber – Def Jam Recordings
- Lorde – Republic Records
- Miley Cyrus – Columbia Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – Island
- Tate McRae – RCA Records
MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum
- Aug. 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
- Sept. 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin Records/Republic Records
- Oct. 2024 – Mark Ambor – “Belong Together” – Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music
- Nov. 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard” – Artist Partner Group Inc.
- Dec. 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye” – Warner Records
- Jan. 2025 – KATSEYE – “Touch” – HYBE/Geffen Records
- Feb. 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI” – 300 Entertainment
- March 2025 – Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records
- April 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow” – Republic Records
- May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” – Sony Italy/Arista Records
- June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
- July 2025 – ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” – Interscope Records
BEST COLLABORATION, presented by Under Armour
- Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – AtlanticRecords/Warner Music Nashville
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Records
- Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me a Drink” – Mercury Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
BEST POP
- Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Record
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
BEST HIP HOP
- Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
- Drake – “NOKIA” – OVO/Santa Anna/Republic
- Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
- GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – CMG/Interscope Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- LL COOL J ft. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux” – Def Jam Recordings
- Travis Scott – “4X4” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records
BEST R&B
- Chris Brown – “Residuals” – Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records
- Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records
- Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – gamma.
- PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l” – OVO Sound
- Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman” – LVRN/Interscope Records
- SZA – “Drive” – Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
- Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
- Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up” – KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records
- Lola Young – “Messy” – Island
- mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” – EST 19XX/Interscope Records
- sombr – “back to friends” – SMB Music/Warner Records
- The Marías – “Back to Me” – Nice Life/Atlantic Records
BEST ROCK
- Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE” – Atlantic Records
- Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series ‘Devil May Cry’)” – Netflix Music
- Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” – Reprise Records/Warner Records
- Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH
- Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine” – Warner Records
- twenty one pilots – “The Contract” – Fueled By Ramen
BEST LATIN
- Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” – Rimas Entertainment
- J Balvin – “Rio” – Capitol Records
- KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
- Peso Pluma – “LA PATRULLA” – Double P Records
- Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” – Sony Music US Latin
- Shakira – “Soltera” – Sony Music US Latin
BEST K-POP
- aespa – “Whiplash” – SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group
- JENNIE – “like JENNIE” – OA Entertainment/Columbia Records
- Jimin – “Who” – BIGHIT MUSIC
- JISOO – “earthquake” – Warner Records
- LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
- Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom” – JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic
- ROSÉ – “toxic till the end” – Atlantic Records
BEST AFROBEATS
- Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” – YBNL Nation/EMPIRE
- Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
- MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max (FLY) (Remix)” – gamma.
- Rema – “Baby (Is It a Crime)” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records
- Tems ft. Asake – “Get It Right” – RCA Records/Since ’93
- Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records
- Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece of My Heart” – Starboy/RCA Records
BEST COUNTRY **
- Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m in Love with You” – Mercury Nashville
- Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville
- Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records
- Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records
- Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records
- Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
BEST ALBUM
- Bad Bunny –DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Rimas Entertainment
- Kendrick Lamar –GNX – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga –Mayhem – Interscope Records
- Morgan Wallen –I’m the Problem – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
- Sabrina Carpenter –Short n’ Sweet – Island
- The Weeknd –Hurry Up Tomorrow – XO/Republic Records
BEST LONG FORM VIDEO
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
- Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” – Rimas Entertainment
- Damiano David – “FUNNY little STORIES” – Sony Italy/Arista Records
- Mac Miller – “Balloonerism” – Warner Records
- Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful” – Columbia Records
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records
VIDEO FOR GOOD
- Burna Boy – “Higher” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
- Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
- Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
- Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
- Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Younger and Hotter Than Me” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
- Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking” – Arista Records
BEST DIRECTION
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
- Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
BEST ART DIRECTION
- Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- Lorde – “Man of the Year” – Republic Records
- Miley Cyrus – “End of the World” – Columbia Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover” – Columbia Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
BEST EDITING
- Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
- Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)” – Atlantic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
- Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
- FKA twigs – “Eusexua” – Atlantic Records
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records
- Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly” – Epic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
- Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)” – Atlantic Records
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records
NOMINEES IN NUMERICAL ORDER
(**) = First-time nominee
Lady Gaga (12)
- Video of the Year – “Die with a Smile”
- Artist of the Year
- Song of the Year – “Die with a Smile”
- Best Collaboration – “Die with a Smile”
- Best Pop – “Die with a Smile”
- Best Album –Mayhem
- Best Direction – “Abracadabra”
- Best Art Direction – “Abracadabra”
- Best Cinematography – “Abracadabra”
- Best Editing – “Abracadabra”
- Best Choreography – “Abracadabra”
- Best Visual Effects – “Abracadabra”
Bruno Mars (11)
- Video of the Year – “Die with a Smile”
- Video of the Year – “APT.”
- Song of the Year – “Die with a Smile”
- Song of the Year – “APT.”
- Best Collaboration – “Die with a Smile”
- Best Collaboration – “APT.”
- Best Pop – “Die with a Smile”
- Best Pop – “APT.”
- Best Direction – “APT.”
- Best Art Direction – “APT.”
- Best Visual Effects – “APT.”
Kendrick Lamar (10)
- Video of the Year – “Not Like Us”
- Artist of the Year
- Best Collaboration – “luther”
- Best Hip-Hop – “Not Like Us”
- Best Album –GNX
- Best Direction – “Not Like Us”
- Best Art Direction – “Not Like Us”
- Best Cinematography – “Not Like Us”
- Best Editing – “Not Like Us”
- Best Choreography – “Not Like Us”
ROSÉ (eight)**
- Video of the Year – “APT.”
- Song of the Year – “APT.”
- Best Collaboration – “APT.”
- Best Pop – “APT.”
- Best K-Pop – “toxic till the end”
- Best Direction – “APT.”
- Best Art Direction – “APT.”
- Best Visual Effects – “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter (eight)
- Video of the Year – “Manchild”
- Best Pop Artist
- Best Pop – “Manchild”
- Best Album –Short n’ Sweet
- Best Direction – “Manchild”
- Best Cinematography – “Manchild”
- Best Editing – “Manchild”
- Best Visual Effects – “Manchild”
Ariana Grande (seven)
- Video of the Year – “brighter days ahead”
- Best Pop Artist
- Best Pop – “brighter days ahead”
- Best Long Form Video – “brighter days ahead”
- Best Direction – “brighter days ahead”
- Best Cinematography – “brighter days ahead”
- Best Visual Effects – “brighter days ahead”
The Weeknd (seven)
- Video of the Year – “Timeless”
- Artist of the Year
- Song of the Year – “Timeless”
- Best R&B – “Timeless”
- Best Album –Hurry Up Tomorrow
- Best Long Form Video – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
- Best Visual Effects – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Billie Eilish (six)
- Video of the Year – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
- Song of the Year – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
- Video for Good – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Direction – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Art Direction – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Editing – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Charli xcx (five)
- Best Pop Artist
- Video for Good -“Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Direction -“Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Art Direction -“Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
- Best Editing -“Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Bad Bunny (four)
- Artist of the Year
- Best Latin – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”
- Best Album –DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
- Best Long Form Video – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)”
Doechii (four)
- Song of the Year – “Anxiety”
- Best Hip-Hop – “Anxiety”
- Video for Good – “Anxiety”
- Best Choreography – “Anxiety”
Ed Sheeran (four)
- Song of the Year – “Sapphire”
- Best Pop – “Sapphire”
- Best Cinematography – “Sapphire”
- Best Editing – “Sapphire”
Jelly Roll (four)
- Best Hip-Hop – “Somebody Save Me”
- Best Alternative – “Lonely Road”
- Best Country – “Liar”
- Video for Good – “Somebody Save Me”
Miley Cyrus (four)
- Best Pop Artist
- Best Long Form Video – “Something Beautiful”
- Best Cinematography – “Easy Lover”
- Best Art Direction – “End of the World”
Tate McRae (four)
- Song of the Year – “Sports Car”
- Best Pop Artist
- Best Editing – “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)”
- Best Visual Effects – “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)”
Alex Warren (three)**
- Song of the Year – “Ordinary”
- Best New Artist
- Best Pop – “Ordinary”
Eminem (three)
- Best Hip-Hop – “Somebody Save Me”
- Best Hip-Hop – “Murdergram Deux”
- Video for Good – “Somebody Save Me”
Gigi Perez (three)**
- Best New Artist
- PUSH Performance of the Year – “Sailor Song”
- Best Alternative – “Sailor Song”
Lorde (three)
- Song of the Year – “What Was That” Best Pop Artist
- Best Art Direction – “Man of the Year”
Morgan Wallen (three)
- Artist of the Year
- Best Country – “Smile”
- Best Album –I’m the Problem
Playboi Carti (three)
- Video of the Year – “Timeless”
- Song of the Year – “Timeless”
- Best R&B – “Timeless”
Travis Scott (three)
- Best Hip-Hop – “4X4”
- Best Afrobeats – “Active”
- Best Afrobeats – “TaTaTa”
Asake (two)
- Best Afrobeats – “Active”
- Best Afrobeats – “Get It Right”
benny blanco (two)
- Best Collaboration – “Sunset Blvd”
- Video for Good – “Younger and Hotter Than Me”
Burna Boy (two)
- Best Afrobeats – “TaTaTa”
- Video for Good – “Higher”
Damiano David (two)**
- Best Long Form Video – “FUNNY little STORIES”
- PUSH Performance of the Year – “Next Summer”
Leon Thomas (two)**
- Best R&B – “MUTT (REMIX)”
- PUSH Performance of the Year – “YES IT IS”
Lola Young (two)**
- Best New Artist
- Best Alternative – “Messy”
Selena Gomez (two)
- Best Collaboration – “Sunset Blvd”
- Video for Good – “Younger and Hotter Than Me”
sombr (two)**
- Best New Artist
- Best Alternative – “back to friends”
SZA (two)
- Best Collaboration – “luther”
- Best R&B – “Drive”
The Marías (two)**
- Best New Artist
- Best Alternative – “Back to Me”
Tyla (two)
- Best Afrobeats – “PUSH 2 START”
- Best Choreography – “PUSH 2 START”
