Lady Gaga celebrates her big wins at the 2025 VMAs as Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter shine (Image Credit: AP)
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards illuminated UBS Arena in New York on Sunday evening, bringing a combination of spectacle, surprise, and history-making victories. Lady Gaga was the night's biggest winner, with four awards, including the much-sought-after Artist of the Year. Her victory came two days after she had cancelled a Miami concert because of vocal strain. Gaga received her award personally before making a rush to Madison Square Garden, where she later performed "The Dead Dance" and "Abracadabra" live on the broadcast.
Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter were right behind with three each. Grande won the night's grand prize, Video of the Year, with her video for Brighter Days Ahead, and Carpenter took Album of the Year for Short n Sweet.
The evening also awarded music legends career-defining recognition. Mariah Carey was honoured with the esteemed Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and performed a nostalgic hit. Busta Rhymes was presented with the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin became the first-ever recipient of the Latin Icon Award. All took the stage with memorable performances that left the audience standing.
Round out the new hotness, the VMAs added two new awards this year- Best Pop Artist, taken home by Sabrina Carpenter, and Best Country Video, claimed by Megan Moroney. Hosted by LL Cool J, and for the first time ever live on CBS in addition to MTV and Paramount+, the show was seen.
Video of the Year: Ariana Grande - Brighter Days Ahead
Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Best Hip-Hop: Doechii - Anxiety
Best Rock: Coldplay - All My Love
Best Latin: Shakira - Soltera
Best Long Form Video: Ariana Grande - Brighter Days Ahead
Video for Good: Charli XCX ft. Billie Eilish - Guess
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
Best Choreography: Doechii - Anxiety
Best Visual Effects: Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild
Best Group: Blackpink
Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile
Best Pop: Ariana Grande - Brighter Days Ahead
Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet
MTV Push Performance of the Year: Katseye - Touch
Song of the Year: Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.
Best Afrobeats: Tyla - Push 2 Start
Best K-Pop: Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye - Born Again
Best Country: Megan Moroney - Am I Okay?
Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
Song of the Summer: Tate McRae - Just Keep Watching
Best Alternative: Sombr - Back to Friends
Best R&B: Mariah Carey - Type Dangerous
Best New Artist: Alex Warren
Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
Rock the Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
