MTV VMAs 2025 highlights: Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga win big, Mariah Carey’s Video Vanguard award, Ozzy Osbourne tribute

Watch the most unforgettable moments from the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards below.

• Lady Gaga: Four awards. The artist was the most nominated of the night, receiving 12 nods total.
• Sabrina Carpenter: Three awards.
• Ariana Grande: Three awards, including the big video of the year award at the end of the night.
• Bruno Mars: Two awards. He shared one with Lady Gaga and one with Rosé.
• Tate McRae: Two awards, for her song "Just Keep Watching" from "F1 The Movie."
• Doechii: Two awards, for best hip-hop and best choreography for "Anxiety." Neither category was announced during the preshow or the show itself.

The winners of the remaining categories that were not announced during the preshow or the actual show started getting posted to the VMAs' X account about 25 minutes after the show wrapped. They include:

• Best pop artist: Sabrina Carpenter 
• Best hip-hop: Doechii 
• Best rock: Coldplay — “ALL MY LOVE”
• Best Latin: Shakira — “Soltera”
• Best long form video: Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
• Video for good: Charli xcx, “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
• Best group: BLACKPINK
• Best direction: Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
• Best cinematography: Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
• Best visual effects: Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild”
• Best choreography: Doechii, "Anxiety”
• Best art direction: Lady Gaga,” Abracadabra”
• Best editing: Tate McRae — “Just Keep Watching (From “F1 The Movie”)

By 11:15 p.m. ET, some fans on social media had already posted their confusion (and frustration) that some categories were not announced live on air tonight.

The official X account for the VMAs asked viewers: "Soooooo what was your favorite part of the 2025 #VMAs?!"

"The part where yall clearly missed like 5 more awards and ended the show," wrote one user.

Several others echoed a similar sentiment, calling out certain categories they were looking forward to hearing the results for.

"the part where you announced best group. oh wait," said another user.

In 2023, when a similar situation occurred, the VMAs posted the remaining category winners on social media after the show wrapped.

Social media posts from Lady Gaga fan accounts shared videos of the artist appearing to perform with her new Moon Person shortly after taking one home.

Lady Gaga rushed from the UBS Arena, where she accepted the award for artist of the year, to perform at Madison Square Garden as part of her ongoing Mayhem Ball Tour.

The 2025 VMAs are officially over, and there was no clear big winner.

Going into the night, several artists scored nominations in the double digits. But no one took home more than two Moon Person statuettes.

Lady Gaga, who had 12 nominations, won two awards. Bruno Mars, who was nominated in 11 categories, also won two awards (one with Lady Gaga and one with ROSÉ). Ariana Grande also took home two awards, including the final video of the year category.

Still, by the time the VMAs wrapped at around 11 p.m. ET, there were some categories that had not yet been announced, including video for good and best group. It's unclear whether the VMAs will announce the rest of the winners on social media (something they've done in the past).

Fresh off a mushy acceptance speech for best pop artist, Ariana Grande again thanked her friends when she accepted the coveted and final award of the night: video of the year.

“Art has been a safe space for me since I was a kid,” Grande said. “I’m so grateful that I get to do this with my life and to have such fiercely loving and supportive fans.”

Ariana Grande accepts the video of the year Award for “Brighter Days Ahead." Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

“Brighter Days Ahead” was "about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of trauma and coming home to our young selves and creating safety in our own lives, which is a lifelong process and a daily exercise," Grande added.

“If you’re on that journey,” she added, “please continue onward, because I promise there are brighter days ahead.”

• Best new artist — Alex Warren 
• Best country — Megan Moroney
• Best R&B — Mariah Carey, “Type Dangerous”
• Best k-pop — Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, “Born Again”
• Best alternative — Sombr, “Back to Friends”
• Best acrobats — Tyla, “Push 2 Start”
• Song of the summer — Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”
• Artist of the year — Lady Gaga 
• Song of the year — Rosé & Bruno Mars, “APT.”
• MTV Push Performance of the Year —Katseye
• Best album — Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
• Best pop — Ariana Grande 
• Best collaboration — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”
• Video of the year — Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead.”
• Best pop artist: Sabrina Carpenter 
• Best hip-hop: Doechii 
• Best rock: Coldplay, “ALL MY LOVE”
• Best Latin: Shakira, “Soltera”
• Best long form video: Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
• Video for good: Charli xcx, “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
• Best group: BLACKPINK
• Best direction: Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
• Best cinematography: Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
• Best visual effects: Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild”
• Best choreography: Doechii, "Anxiety”
• Best art direction: Lady Gaga,” Abracadabra”
• Best editing: Tate McRae — “Just Keep Watching (From “F1 The Movie”)

Ariana Grande — “Brighter Days Ahead”

The singer performed "Vodka Cranberry" in a beautiful set re-creating a reimagined version of "Romeo and Juliet" (minus Juliet, plus another Romeo).

In a night already filled with millennial nostalgia, sisters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson — singers who rose up together in the late 1990s/early 2000s —appeared onstage together.

The duo announced the best collaboration award.

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”

The awards show is usually expected to last around three hours.

But with just 15 minutes until that three-hour mark, there are still a handful of awards yet to be announced. They include video of the year (which usually comes last).

At the 2023 awards show, some fans were confused after the show wrapped and the VMAs continued to announce winners on social media.

During her best pop acceptance speech, Grande thanked her father for his cameo in her "Brighter Days Ahead" video.

"Thank you so much to my fans. I'm going to cry," Grande said. "Thank you, MTV, thank you, my dad, who acted in this video for the first time in his life, and he is the best scene partner and dad in the world."

She also gave a shoutout to her therapists and gay people, saying, "I love you."

Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”

Starting his performance inside a photobooth, Sombr took the stage to sing “Back to Friends,” the song that won him his first VMA award this evening for best alternative, before ending with “12 to 12.”

Sombr performs. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

Unlike at other award shows, at which stars sometimes use their acceptance speeches as opportunities to talk about political issues, the VMA winners this year have mainly focused their remarks on the music and their fans. 

"Tonight we’re all here for one reason: music," host LL Cool J said at the start of the show. "Music is the force that brings us all together, and we’re leaving everything else at the door. This is our night off."

Sabrina Carpenter took home her second-ever Moon Person tonight, telling fans she doesn't "take for granted when you guys take the time out of your lives to listen to an album, and if I’m lucky enough that that is my album, I am so grateful."

It’s been a big year for Carpenter, who is on her Short n’ Sweet Tour. Her latest album, “Man’s Best Friend,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and she is scheduled to be featured on Taylor Swift's upcoming album, "The Life of a Showgirl."

Earle, who has 7.5 million followers on TikTok, took the stage to introduce a performance by Moroney, who took home the award for best country tonight.

The category was one of two new ones introduced at the awards show this year.

Sabrina Carpenter, "Short n’ Sweet"

The Colombian took the stage to sing "Zun Zun." He was joined by DJ Snake to perform "Como en los 90s" (Like In the 90s) — both perfectly in line with tonight's millennial nostalgia vibes.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as YUNGBLUD and Nuno Bettencourt, came together for a legend-filled tribute performance in honor of the late Ozzy Osbourne, aka the "Prince of Darkness."

YUNGBLUD, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry perform a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

Osbourne, the wailing Black Sabbath singer-turned-solo act, died in July at age 76.

The lengthy tribute included megahits “Crazy Train,” "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Changes."

The Black Sabbath frontman was a five-time Grammy winner and a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Ozzy’s son and grandchildren introduced the tribute in a video with the catchphrase "Let’s go crazy!"

Alex Warren, who won the VMA for best new artist earlier today, gave a moving performance alongside live band musicians and dozens of backup singers accompanying him on a green-covered stage.

Alex Warren performs. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

"The category is dance or die," the artist said as she kicked off her VMAs performance with her hit "Abracadabra." "Put your claws up, MTV!"

It’s unclear whether the performance, where she also sang "The Dead Dance," was recorded (as speculated) or whether the show cut to tonight’s concert.

Madison Square Garden, where Lady Gaga is performing her Mayhem Ball Tour, said on its Instagram story earlier today that Lady Gaga was expected to take the stage "later" tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Lady Gaga was introduced by Rosé, who said that "we've got a front row seat" from MSG.

Appearing in a sparking gold bodysuit, Mariah Carey stirred up the crowd with a medley of “Sugar Sweet,” “Fantasy” and “Honey” before bringing back her British alter ego,, Bianca for a transition to “Obsessed” and “It’s Like That.”

Mariah Carey performs Sunday. Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images

Accepting her first ever Moon Person for the MTV Video Vanguard Award, Carey joked, “What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?”

“Music videos are my way of life, of bringing music to my own life,” Carey said. “And let’s be honest, sometimes there’s just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn’t do in real life.”

We’re about halfway through the three-hour Video Music Awards, and some of the night’s most significant moments prove that the recent surge in millennial nostalgia is still going strong. Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes graced the stage, while Paris Hilton introduced an award after her 2006 hit "Stars Are Blind" played in the background. Mariah Carey gave viewers a picture-perfect and nostalgic look at her illustrious decadeslong career during her performance before she accepted the VMA Video Vanguard award.

Jessica Simpson, one of the most recognizable names in millennial culture, even introduced Ricky Martin’s Latin icon award — and recalled that in 1999, she was asked to open for his "Livin’ La Vida Loca" tour.

"It was a dream come true," Simpson said. "He is my inspiration, one of my idols, and he is still one of the most dynamic performers I know."

Newcomers in the music scene who have seen fame escalate thanks to social media platforms like TikTok also made a significant impact at this year’s VMAs. Among them are Alex Warren, who won the first award of the night as best new artist, and Lola Yung, who performed her hit single "Messy."

The pop star said Carey is the "reason so many of us sing" when introducing the Video Vanguard Award tonight.

"As a songwriter and producer, she’s given us an anthem for every occasion," she said before introducing Carey, whom she praised for creating a "pop playbook."

"As a vocalist, there’s only one queen, and that’s Mariah," Grande said. "She knows no limits with her iconic five-octave range and has left an irrevocable impact with her tone, technique and sound."

After Carey's medley performance, Grande bowed while presenting the pop icon her moon person.

Bailey Zimmerman, who is nominated for best collaboration alongside Luke Combs, performed "Lost" with the Kid Laroi on the Extended Play stage.

Post Malone, who is currently on tour, performed for the VMAs remotely from a stadium in Germany alongside Jelly Roll.

The singer took on the VMAs stage, emerging from a manhole cover into a NYC-like street reminiscent of the late '80s, early '90s, with performers in drag, boom boxes and men dancers in sexy police uniforms.

Sabrina Carpenter performs her new song "Tears." Kevin Mazur / Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

Katseye, for "Touch"

Before accepting the inaugural "Rock the Bells" Visionary Award, hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes gave an energetic performance featuring nostalgic hits like “Gimme Some More,” “Scenario” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.”

Busta Rhymes performs. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

“I know I usually do these long speeches. I’m not gonna do one today,” Busta Rhymes said in a brief acceptance speech after his performance. “But next time y’all take 35 years to give me one of these. They’re gonna let me talk as long as I want.”

LL Cool J on Sunday. Kevin Kane / Getty Images

The VMAs host returned from the break in a bedazzled hoodie and black leather coat to introduce legendary rapper Busta Rhymes, who is being honored with the "Rock the Bells" Visionary Award.

Accepting the award for song of the year, Rosé appeared breathless onstage as she expressed her disbelief. She thanked co-recipient Bruno Mars, whom she collaborated with on "APT."

In her speech, she reflected on what she had once considered her biggest fear in life.

“I feared that somewhere along the way, this journey of pursuing my dreams, I might hit a wall and possibly disappoint my 16-year-old self,” Rosé said, “who grew up always an oddball among society that wished someday, she, too, could be herself and equally pursue her dreams just as well as anyone else I saw on television.”

The New Zealand-born singer and Blackpink member, 28, dedicated her Moon Person to her younger self before also thanking her team and her family.

Rosé & Bruno Mars, “APT.”

Fresh off a win for song of the summer for her hit "Just Keep Watching," Tate McRae stunned with her Medusa-themed performance. Wearing all white and dancing with several male performers wearing swim briefs, McRae played several of her hits, including "Sports Car" and "Revolving Door."

While accepting her award before the show, McRae revealed that Medusa inspired her VMA performance.

Tate McRae performs "Revolving Door" and "Sports Car" at the VMAs. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

Jessica Simpson introduced Ricky Martin’s Latin icon award — and revealed that in 1999, she was asked to open for his "Livin’ La Vida Loca" tour.

"It was a dream come true,” Simpson said. "He is my inspiration, one of my idols, and he is still one of the most dynamic performers I know."

Simpson also congratulated Martin on his performance. 

"He just crushed it, right? And what a babe! How hot is Ricky Martin? Come on," she added, earning a roar of applause.

Martin, while accepting the inaugural Latin icon award, said, "This is for you all."

“We just want to unite countries," he added. "We just want to break boundaries, and we just want to keep music alive."

The trailblazing Puerto Rican singer returned to the VMAs stage tonight, 26 years after his English-language debut in 1999 for a performance commemorating his four-decade career.

Opening up with “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Martin dazzled viewers with his dances moves and showmanship. His bilingual medley included hits past and present, from "The Cup of Life" to "Pegate."

Ricky Martin performs. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

J Balvin introduced Ricky Martin before his performance, thanking the Puerto Rican superstar for his contribution to Latin music and bringing it to mainstream radio.

"In 1999, everyone was trying to live la vida loca," Balvin said. "If it weren’t for artists like Ricky Martin, I wouldn’t be talking in Spanish."

"Man, we love you, we appreciate you," Balvin added, before offering his thanks in Spanish and asking everyone to stand up for Martin.

Martin is being honored with the first VMAs Latin Icon Award.

Young took the stage after Lady Gaga's win, performing her hit song "Messy." It marked her first performance at the awards show, where she's nominated for best new artist and best alternative.

Lola Young performs during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Arturo Holmes / Getty Images for MTV

Accepting artist of the year to deafening cheers and chants, Lady Gaga dedicated her award to the audience — urging it to remember “the importance of the art of your life.”

“I cannot begin to tell you what this means to me,” she said, her voice shaking.

Lady Gaga accepts the artist of the year award. Manny Carabel / Getty Images for MTV

“Being an artist is an attempt to connect the souls of people all over the world. Being an artist is a discipline, a craft meant for reaching into someone’s heart, where it grows its roots, and reminding them to dream,” she continued. “Being an artist is a responsibility to make the audience smile, dance, cry, release. ... It is a method of building understanding and celebrating community.”

“You very much deserve a stage to shine on, and I give you all my applause,” she told the VMAs audience before rushing offstage to return to her concert. “I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden.”

Lady Gaga

The jazz musician's opening tune was part of Doja Cat's performance to kick off the show, full of vibrant and fun '80s vibes.

LL Cool J has entered the building.

Host US rapper LL Cool J gestures on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 7, 2025.  Angela Weiss / AFP / Getty Images

The host teased what was to come tonight in his opening monologue by hyping upcoming performances and honorees.

“Tonight we’re all here for one reason: Music," he said. "Music is the force that brings us all together, and we’re leaving everything else at the door. This is our night off.”

The red carpet is wrapping up as attendees are heading inside, where the main show will be starting any minute.

Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna — the singers behind the characters of the Netflix hit movie — are will be presenting some awards during tonight’s ceremony.

Within weeks, viewers of “KPop Demon Hunters” — which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix — have flooded a Tumblr community page for the film with fan art. A Reddit thread continues to spark conversations about the movie, including speculation about whether there will be a sequel. On TikTok, videos of fans re-creating dances from the film, showing off their reactions to key scenes and debuting cosplays have amassed hundreds of millions of views. There are also Wiki pages dedicated to the groups.

Read the full story here.

Tate McRae, "Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”

The singer took home another Moon Person statue this year.

"It's just a blessing to be here and winning another award," Tyla said, who last year won in the best Afrobeats song category.

Tyla. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

The global girl group dazzled the VMAs preshow stage once again with a performance of its viral hit "Gabriela" (and equally iconic choreography).

Tyla, “Push 2 Start”

It took Sombr a few seconds to realize he just won his first VMA award.

While being handed a Moon Person for best alternative, Sombr appeared confused.

“Why?” he said. “Did I win? What did I win?”

The singer, who is also up for best new artist, won for his single "Back to Friends."

"I didn’t expect this. I thought this was a prank. ‘Back to Friends’ is a song that I wrote and produced all by myself, and I made it at a really low point," Sombr said. "So receiving this award is just honestly insane. I grew up watching the VMAs."

He thanked his fans, family and team members before planting a kiss on his Moon Person.

Music superstar Mariah Carey will be honored with the Video Vanguard Award, which celebrates an artist’s impact on music videos and pop culture.

Mariah Carey to receive Video Vanguard award at MTV Awards

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She will also take the stage to "perform a show-stopping, career-spanning medley of her biggest hits," according to a news release from Paramount. Past recipients of the honor include Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyoncé and Madonna.

During the preshow, Carey took home her first-ever VMA award for best R&B.

"Mother Monster," who has been nominated for 57 VMAs throughout her career, is expected to perform tonight. The award-winning singer previously took the stage in 2020, when she sang hits including "Rain on Me."

But the artist, who is on tour, is rumored to have recorded her performance for the awards show. On social media this weekend, some fans posted videos of Gaga performing some numbers at a Madison Square Garden concert in New York.

A fan account for the artist's tour, called Mayhem Ball Tour, speculated on X that "there’s a strong possibility she might snatch awards right from her own stage, just like she’s done on past tours."

Meanwhile, on its Instagram story, Madison Square Garden wrote that "Lady Gaga will be going on stage closer to 9:30 PM tonight." Does that mean Gaga will grace the awards show briefly and then go to her show? Given the 18.3-mile journey she'd have to make from UBS to MSG, it's still unclear.

Sombr, “Back to Friends”

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who each have 30 VMA wins to their names, are both up for artist of the year.

It's the only category they are both nominated in. If one of them takes home the award, she’ll make history as the artist with the most VMA wins ever.

It's unclear whether either of them is actually attending the show tonight. Swift's had a busy few months, most recently announcing both an upcoming album and her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Beyoncé hasn't attended the VMAs since 2016.

Kendrick Lamar is continuing his hot streak this year with 10 VMA nominations, including for artist of the year, video of the year for "Not Like Us" and best album for "GNX."

Lamar dominated the Grammys this year when he took home five awards, including record and song of the year for "Not Like Us.”"

He followed up that sweep by becoming the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD and Nuno Bettencourt will do a performance honoring Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July at age 76.

The Black Sabbath frontman was a five-time Grammy winner and a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, according to the VMAs, which announced the medley performance on Friday.

Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, “Born Again”

In an interview thanking fans after winning best country, Megan Moroney shared that she “literally fought over a Moonman statue” in a game of White Elephant last Christmas.

Megan Moroney after her win on Sunday. Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for MTV

“And now I have a real one,” she said. “So I’m freaking out. This is way better than the HomeGoods one.”

The singer, who is receiving the Video Vanguard Award award tonight, took home her first-ever Moon Person statuette during the awards pre-show.

She took home the award for best R&B. She was getting ready backstage for her medley performance during the show but thanked fans in a video message.

"My first moon man ever! This is amazing, MTV, I don't know why it took you so long!" she joked.

The sister duo stepping into the red carpet is giving #Throwback vibes to all of us '90s babies out here.

Paris rocked a black dress with flames, and Nicky wore a light blue angelic dress. The sisters told red carpet hosts that they were going for "fire and ice" vibes.

YouTube star MrBeast seems to be at the VMAs just for the vibes.

“I see a lot of these people on my TikTok feeds, but a lot of these musicians I’ve never met before, and so it’s been kind of cool making friends, having a good time,” MrBeast said on the carpet.

“We’re teaching MrBeast all about the VMAs now,” the preshow host joked while listing out a few of tonight’s anticipated performers.

Mr Beast and Thea Booysen attend the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV

After a stunt in which a Moon Person was delivered by motorbike, MrBeast helped hand out the first award of the night.

Mariah Carey, “Type Dangerous”

Megan Moroney

Here are the categories the "Mayhem" star is nominated for:

1. Video of the year, with Bruno Mars, for "Die with a Smile”
2. Artist of the year
3. Song of the year, with Bruno Mars, for “Die with a Smile”
4. Best collaboration, with Bruno Mars, for “Die with a Smile”
5. Best pop, with Bruno Mars, for “Die with a Smile”
6. Best album ("Mayhem")
7. Best direction, for “Abracadabra”
8. Best art direction, for “Abracadabra”
9. Best cinematography, for “Abracadabra”
10. Best editing, for “Abracadabra”
11. Best choreography, for “Abracadabra”
12. Best visual effects, for “Abracadabra”

Alex Warren

Global girl group Katseye just kicked off the preshow with a performance of its 2025 hit “Gnarly.”

Sophia, Megan, Daniela, Lara Raj, Yoonchae and Manon of KATSEYE perform at the MTV Video Music Awards. Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV

There are 33 first-time nominees this year, according to a news release from the VMAs.

Some of the first-timers were nominated in multiple categories. They include:

• ROSÉ: 8 nomination, first solo nominations
• Alex Warren: 3 nominations 
• Gigi Perez: 3 nominations
• Damiano David: 2 nominations, first solo nom
• Leon Thomas: 2 nominations
• Lola Young: 2 nominations
• sombr: 2 nominations
•  The Marías: 2 nominations
• BLACKPINK’s JISOO and JENNIE, as well as BTS’s Jimin, also earned their first solo nods.

Ariana Grande just arrived, posing on the carpet in full-body polka dots, wearing a custom Fendi peplum dress with Swarovski accessories, according to stylist Law Roach.

Ariana Grande attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sunday. Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV

The 26-year-old pop princess graced the VMAs red carpet in a long, red lace dress. Nominated for eight awards tonight, the artist is also set to perform.

Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sunday. Noam Galai / Getty Images for MTV

KATSEYE will kick off the night with a preshow performance.

For the main show, this year’s lineup of performers includes:

• Lady Gaga
• Doja Cat
• Post Malone
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Jelly Roll
• J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Justin Quiles & Lenny Tavárez
• Busta Rhymes (Rock the Bells Visionary Medley)
• Mariah Carey (Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Medley)
• Ricky Martin (Latin Icon Medley)
• Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, Nuno Bettencourt (Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne)

As well as first-time main stage performers:

• Conan Gray
• Tate McRae
• Alex Warren
• sombr

And, performers for the Extended Play stage include:

• Bailey Zimmerman feat. the Kid LAROI
• Lola Young
• Megan Moroney

LL Cool J walked the red carpet looking sharp in a neutral-colored, checkered coat and a dapper hat.

The legendary hip-hop artist and actor will be hosting tonight's show.

Host LL Cool J attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sunday. Kevin Mazur / Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

The Video Music Awards, a staple of the MTV network, will also air on CBS tonight.

Paramount Media Networks, which owns both CBS and MTV, made the move following last year's success.

The 2024 VMAs delivered the biggest multi-network audience in four years, according to Paramount.

Rebecca Black is on the red carpet wearing a metallic silver, textured bodice, contrasted with a flowing white lace skirt.

Rebecca Black attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sunday. Kevin Mazur / Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen, the star couple who were runners-up in the recently wrapped season 7 of "Love Island USA," are on the VMAs carpet, with Vansteenberghe dressed in all black and Carthen in a sheer red gown.

Ace Greene has also been spotted in attendance.

Voting ended Friday for most categories, but voting in the category of best new artist ends today.

Any person over age 12 can participate in the VMA polls by voting up to 10 times a day. Send in your votes on the MTV website.

Hosted by radio and TV personalities Nessa and Kevan Kenney, the VMAs preshow will feature a performance from KATSEYE, the girl group that was formed through the talent competition reality show “Dream Academy.”

The show will air live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on MTV and CBS, and it will be streamed on Paramount+.

Taylor Swift and the MTV VMAs have a long history, one that goes back to 2009, when Swift was a breakthrough country artist. Since then, she has been a VMAs mainstay — and is now the most awarded solo artist in the awards show’s history.

Swift is nominated this year in one of the VMAs’ top categories: artist of the year. She’s in good company with her fellow nominees: Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar and Morgan Wallen.

In 2024, Swift took home her 30th Moon Person at the MTV Video Music Awards and solidified her status as the most awarded solo artist in VMAs history. Artist of the year is her only nomination for 2025, and if she wins, she will have the most career VMA wins of all time. (She and Beyoncé are currently tied.)

Neither Swift nor others in her orbit have publicly indicated whether she’ll attend the VMAs. According to a report from Page Six and a report from USA Today, she won't be there. TODAY.com has reached out to her team for comment.

Ricky Martin will receive the first Latin Icon Award, capping a trailblazing four-decade career. The honor comes on the 26th anniversary of his first VMAs performance in 1999, when he dominated with five awards and became the first male Latin artist to win best pop video.

As Vogue noted in a recent column, the VMAs red carpet has become a forum for "those music artists and creatives who aren’t afraid of pushing fashion boundaries."

"Artists and celebrities have provided shock-factor and scene-stealing fashion moments at just about every VMAs since its genesis," according to the outlet, which cited "Rose McGowan’s crystal-netted string dress in 1998, Pamela Anderson’s cinched-corset and oversized feather hat in 1999, Nicki Minaj’s Harajuku-inspired look in 2011, and Saweetie’s Flintstones-inspired gown in 2023" as notable examples.

Music royalty is likely to begin making their way to the show hours before it kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. An official preshow with red carpet coverage will air on MTV (and BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1) at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

• Lady Gaga: 12
• Bruno Mars: 11
• Kendrick Lamar: 10
• ROSÉ: Eight
• Sabrina Carpenter: Eight

Busta Rhymes will receive MTV’s first VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, which honors his “boundary-breaking cultural impact and an indomitable musical career.”

The hip-hop legend, who earned 12 Grammy nominations over his nearly 30-year career, was named the Global Icon honoree at last year’s MTV Europe Music Awards.

Busta Rhymes wrote an all-caps Instagram post thanking MTV for tonight’s accolade: “THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO WE WON’T EVER STOP!!!! NEVERRRRR!!!” ANOTHER BIG BLESSED DAY, ANOTHER MIMENT OF MAGIC WILL BE HAPPENING TODAY, MORE HISTORY WILL BE MADE TODAY, MORE FLOWERS WILL BE RECEIVED TODAY!!!”

The "TODAY" show team breaks down what to expect at tonight's show. Watch below:

Here’s what to expect from the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

01:12

The MTV VMAs officially kick off at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

It's available to watch on MTV and CBS (for the first time). It will also be available to livestream on Paramount+ Premium.

There are 19 gender-neutral categories for the VMA awards. Here are the nominees in each.

Video of the year:

Ariana Grande — “Brighter Days Ahead”

Billie Eilish — “Birds of a Feather”

Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars — “Die With a Smile”

Rosé & Bruno Mars — “APT.”

Sabrina Carpenter — “Manchild”

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti — “Timeless”

Artist of the year:

Bad Bunny

Beyoncé

Kendrick Lamar

Lady Gaga

Morgan Wallen

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Song of the year:

Alex Warren — “Ordinary”

Billie Eilish — “Birds of a Feather”

Doechii — “Anxiety”

Ed Sheeran — “Sapphire”

Gracie Abrams — “I Love You, I’m Sorry”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars — “Die With a Smile”

Lorde — “What Was That”

Rosé & Bruno Mars — “APT.”

Tate McRae — “Sports Car”

The Weeknd & Playboi Carti — “Timeless”