MTV VMAs 2025 winners were announced Sunday night at UBS Arena in New York, with Lady Gaga leading the pack with four major victories, including Artist of the Year. The pop superstar’s dominance marked one of the most successful nights in recent VMAs history, cementing her status as a music video icon.
Lady Gaga’s Historic Night
Lady Gaga entered the ceremony with 12 nominations and emerged as the biggest winner, taking home Artist of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Direction, and Best Collaboration for “Die With a Smile” alongside Bruno Mars. This brings her total VMA count to 22 Moon Person trophies throughout her career.
The “Bad Romance” singer’s wins showcased her artistic versatility, from her creative vision in directing to her collaborative prowess. Her victory in the Artist of the Year category placed her ahead of formidable nominees including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar.
Ariana Grande Claims Video of the Year
Ariana Grande secured three victories, including the coveted Video of the Year award for “Brighter Days Ahead,” along with Best Long-Form Video for the same project and Best Pop. Her emotional acceptance speech highlighted the importance of mental health awareness, connecting with fans who have supported her journey.
The “Brighter Days Ahead” video stood out among strong competition that included Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Grande’s win demonstrates her continued evolution as both a vocalist and visual storyteller.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Triple Win
Sabrina Carpenter also collected three trophies: Pop Artist, Album for “Short n’ Sweet,” and Best Visual Effects for “Manchild”. The former Disney star’s success represents her breakthrough into mainstream recognition, with “Short n’ Sweet” becoming one of 2024’s most acclaimed pop albums.
Read Also-VMA Winners: Spotlight on the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards’ Standouts
Special Honors and Tributes
The ceremony celebrated music legends with special recognition. Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, performing a medley of her career-spanning hits. The five-octave vocalist’s emotional performance reminded audiences why she remains one of pop music’s most influential voices.
Ricky Martin made history as the first recipient of the VMA’s Latin Icon Award, delivering a medley of his megahits. Meanwhile, Busta Rhymes was honored with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, performing his own career-spanning medley.
International Success Stories
K-pop continued its VMAs dominance with LISA winning Best K-pop for “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat and RAYE. The BLACKPINK member’s solo success reinforces K-pop’s global influence on mainstream music.
ROSÉ, also from BLACKPINK, won Song of the Year for “APT.” with Bruno Mars, marking a significant achievement for K-pop representation in major categories.
Complete Major Category Winners
- Video of the Year: 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: Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
- Best Hip-Hop: Doechii – “Anxiety”
- Best R&B: Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
- Best Rock: Coldplay – “All My Love”
- Best Country: Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
- Best Group: BLACKPINK
Rising Stars and Breakthrough Moments
Alex Warren took home Best New Artist, representing the new generation of social media-driven musicians breaking into traditional music industry recognition. His win signals the continued evolution of how artists build their careers in the digital age.
The ceremony also highlighted emerging genres with Tyla winning Best Afrobeats for “Push 2 Start” and Shakira claiming Best Latin for “Soltera”, showcasing MTV’s commitment to global music representation.
Technical Excellence Awards
Behind-the-scenes talent received recognition through technical categories. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won Best Cinematography, while Doechii’s “Anxiety” took Best Choreography. These awards highlight the collaborative nature of modern music video production.
The MTV VMAs 2025 winners reflect music’s current landscape, where pop dominance meets global diversity and technical innovation drives creative expression. With performances that matched the excitement of the awards themselves, this year’s ceremony will be remembered as a celebration of artistic excellence across all genres and cultures.
What did you think of this year’s winners? Share your thoughts on which victories surprised you most and which performances stole the show.