The stage is officially set for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, and the lineup is looking like fire. MTV has dropped the first wave of performers and honorees, featuring a mix of legends, icons, and the next wave of superstars set to take the stage at UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7.
Following a breakout year, Sabrina Carpenter is back with eight nominations, including Video of the Year for Manchild. After stealing the show in 2024 with what many called the night’s defining performance, she’s now cementing herself as one of pop’s most unstoppable forces.
Alex Warren, breakout singer-songwriter and the newest MTV PUSH artist is hitting the “VMAs” stage for the first time. With three nominations, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for his global No. 1 “Ordinary,” Warren’s about to level up.
Hip-hop royalty Busta Rhymes will not only perform, but he’s also set to receive the first-ever Rock The Bells Visionary Award, honoring a career that’s redefined rap for decades. Expect nothing less than rapid-fire bars and a show-stopping performance.
Global superstar J Balvin returns with Latin smash Zun Zun, then teams with DJ Snake for the premiere of their collab Noventa. Balvin is chasing history too: one more Moon Person and he becomes the winningest Latin artist in VMA history.
Ricky Martin is set for a massive return as the first recipient of the Latin Icon Award. The honor recognizes a four-decade career that launched Latin music into the mainstream. His appearance comes 26 years after his unforgettable debut VMA performance in 1999.
And making his award show debut, sombr will bring his unique alt-pop energy to the VMA stage. Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Alternative, the international breakout is ready for his most significant moment yet.
Holding it all together is LL CooL J, hosting the VMAs solo for the first time. A pioneer who helped put hip-hop on the VMA map, LL has been part of the show’s legacy since winning his first Moon Person in 1991. Now, more than 30 years later, he’s steering music’s biggest night.
This year’s VMAs are shaping up to be more than just an award show—it’s a celebration of music’s past, present, and future. From Busta’s cultural impact to Ricky Martin’s trailblazing recognition, and from Sabrina’s pop dominance to sombr’s rise, MTV is spotlighting every generation of fans.
The 2025 MTV VMAs air live coast-to-coast Sunday, September 7 at 8PM ET/5PM PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streaming on Paramount+.
With hip-hop, Latin power, rising stars, and a living legend host, this year’s VMAs aren’t just stacked, they’re about to be a cultural reset.
The 2025 MTV VMAs, airing live coast-to-coast from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. The show will broadcast on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and stream on Paramount+ .
DeMarcus Reynolds knows music. From rock to trap to hip-hop, he covers the beats that move culture.
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