The nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards have been unveiled, highlighting a strong presence of female artists. Announced on August 5, 2025, the list features two new categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist. Leading the nominations is Lady Gaga, with a remarkable 12 nominations including coveted titles such as Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Following closely are Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar, who received 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. Female performers continue to shine, with Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter earning eight nominations each. Other notable mentions include Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Doechii, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae, each garnering four or more nods.
The Song of the Year category stands out this year, featuring an extensive list of 10 nominees. However, the field will be narrowed to six finalists on August 18 after nearly two weeks of fan voting. Voting for the final nominees in this and other categories will remain open until September 5. Notably, the voting for Best New Artist will continue until the awards ceremony takes place.
The 2025 MTV VMAs will be broadcast live from New York’s UBS Arena on September 7 at 20:00 ET. Below is the complete list of nominees across various categories:
Key Categories and Nominees
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”
Best New Artist
– Alex Warren
– Ella Langley
– Gigi Perez
– Lola Young
– Sombr
– The Marías
In addition to these, categories such as Best Pop Artist, Best Collaboration, and Best Hip-Hop showcase a diverse range of talent. For instance, the Best Pop Artist category features nominees like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and Miley Cyrus.
The MTV VMAs continue to be a significant platform for recognizing and celebrating musical achievements. With the inclusion of new categories and a lineup rich with both established and emerging artists, the anticipation for the annual ceremony is building. Fans can expect an exciting night filled with performances, surprises, and memorable moments as the show approaches.
