MTV is gearing up for its biggest night of the year: the 2025 Video Music Awards.
This year’s event promises to be an evening to remember, with the biggest names in music nominated for multiple awards, including Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter. The 2025 edition of the awards show also includes two new categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist.
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, meanwhile, will once again fight it out for the honor of most VMAs wins ever, as both are nominated for Artist of the Year.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards:
MTV VMAs 2025 Nominations: See the Complete List
When Are the 2025 VMAs?
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, September 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Red carpet coverage is expected to air earlier in the evening.
Where Are the 2025 VMAs?
The 2025 VMAs ceremony will be held at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. This marks the second year in a row that the awards show will be held at the Long Island stadium.
How to Watch the 2025 VMAs
Viewers can watch the 2025 VMAs live on CBS and MTV. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to watch live on the streaming service. The show will be available on demand the next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
MTV Video Vanguard Winners Through the Years
How to Vote for the 2025 VMAs
Fans can vote for all categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, September 5, at 6 p.m. ET. Voting for Best New Artist will remain active during the live show. Song of the Year, meanwhile, will narrow to six nominees on Monday, August 18, at 12 p.m. ET, with voting continuing until September 5 with the other categories.
Fans can obtain additional votes for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best New Artist by commenting under the pinned posts on @VMAs Instagram using the artist-specific hashtags through Friday, August 8, at 6 p.m. ET. They can also get double the votes per category every day during Power Hour presented by Bacardi, running daily from 1 to 2 p.m. ET from Thursday, August 7, through Thursday, September 4.
Who Is Nominated at the 2025 VMAs?
Gaga leads the pack with 12 nominations, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Mars and Lamar are in second and third place, with 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. Other artists with multiple nods include Grande, Carpenter, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Jelly Roll, Doechii and Miley Cyrus.
First-time nominees receiving multiple nods include Alex Warren, Gigi Perez and The Marías. Damiano David, Jennie, Jimin and Jisoo all earned their first solo nods.
Busta Rhymes is set to receive the first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, while Ricky Martin will be honored with the first-ever Latin Icon Award.
Who Is Performing at the 2025 VMAs?
MTV announced the first round of performers on August 18, confirming that Carpenter will hit the stage along with Alex Warren, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Sombr and honorees Busta Rhymes and Martin. On August 26, the network confirmed a second round of performances by Conan Gray, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Post Malone and Tate McRae. Gray is set to sing “Vodka Cranberry,” while Doja Cat will deliver the first televised performance of her new single “Jealous Type.”
MTV announced on Saturday, August 30, that Lady Gaga is also joining the lineup of performers for her first VMAs performance in five years. The network’s X account teased: “Need all of my fellow Little Monsters to COME TO THE FRONT! Why, you ask?! Oh, because MOTHER MONSTER HERSELF IS PERFORMING AT THE 2025 #VMAs!!!! @ladygaga Don’t miss a second of all the MAYHEM that will be caused – September 7th at 8 pm ET on CBS & @paramountplus 
.”
A separate announcement on the VMAs Instagram account confirmed: “There will be magic in the air at the 2025 #VMAs because @LADYGAGA IS PERFORMING! 
You won’t want to miss her return, September 7 on @cbstv and @paramountplus!”
The Extended Play Stage presented by Doritos will also take place in-show for the first time, featuring Lola Young, Megan Moroney and Bailey Zimmerman alongside The Kid Laroi.
MTV confirmed on September 5 that the show will include a “powerhouse tribute” to the late Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July at age 76. The performance will feature Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt, who are set to collaborate on a medley of Osbourne’s greatest hits.
Who Is Hosting the 2025 VMAs?
MTV announced on August 14 that LL Cool J will host the 2025 VMAs. The rapper previously hosted the show in 2022 with Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj, but this year’s ceremony will mark the first time he’s taken on emcee duties solo. (He also hosted the Grammys for five consecutive years from 2012 to 2016.)
LL Cool J is a VMA winner himself, having taken home his first Moon Person in 1991 and becoming the first rapper to win the Video Vanguard Award in 1997.
The preshow, meanwhile, will be hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney, with a special performance by Katseye.
Who Is This Year’s Video Vanguard Winner?
MTV announced on August 21 that Mariah Carey will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award. “The best-selling female artist of all time returns to the VMAs stage for the first time in 20 years, with a full circle moment to accept the same award she presented to LL Cool J in 1997,” the network said in a press release, noting that Carey will “perform a show-stopping, career-spanning medley of her biggest hits” during the show. Her video for “Type Dangerous” is nominated this year in the Best R&B category.
Who Is Presenting at the 2025 VMAs?
MTV announced the first round of presenters on September 2. The roster includes Ashlee Simpson, Brittany Snow, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, KPop Demon Hunters’ Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, Ice Spice, Jessica Simpson, Latto, Livvy Dunne, Malin Åkerman, Megan Stalter, Nikki Glaser and Paris Hilton. The second round of presenters includes Lenny Kravitz, Rosé, Alix Earle and Luke Grimes.
