The MTV Video Music Awards 2025 took place at the New York UBS Arena, making way for a night filled with powerhouse performances and emotional tributes. Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter emerged as the evening’s biggest winners.
Heading into the night as the most nominated artist with a stunning 12 nominations, Lady Gaga ended up adding four “moon person” trophies to her growing collection, which currently stands at 22. One of her biggest wins of the night included the coveted Artist of the Year title, where she edged out fellow nominees Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, and Kendrick Lamar, none of whom were present at the award ceremony.
Gaga, donning her signature dramatic style, in this case, a black baroque gown, took to the stage to dedicate the win to her fiancé, Michael Polansky, as well as her devoted fanbase. Shortly after, the singer turned to Madison Square Garden to wrap up her Mayhem tour with the two Bangers, Abracadabra and The Dead Dance. Renowned filmmaker Tim Burton directed the two tracks with his signature gothic flair. Gaga also appeared as a guest star in Season 2 of Burton’s hit TV series Wednesday.
Moreover, the singer also won the award for Best Direction and Best Art Direction for Abracadabra, as well as Best Collaboration for her duet Die With A Smile with Bruno Mars.
Ariana Grande also made a significant impact at the awards, taking home two awards, including the prestigious Video of the Year for her song Brighter Days Ahead. Stepping onstage alongside director Christian Breslauer, the 7 Rings singer spoke about the importance of reconnecting with the younger self, calling it “a lifelong process.”
Additionally, Grande also received the award for Best Pop Video, continuing her reign in the genre.
Sabrina Carpenter also, once again, made her mark at the MTVs, winning Album of the Year for her hit album Short n’ Sweet, as well as bagging the brand-new Best Pop Artist Award. She also delivered one of the most spectacular performances of the night, with a rendition of Tears.
The awards also demonstrated the diversity of the music industry, with Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin teaming up with French producer DJ Snake to take on their track, Noventa. Rising girl group Katseye, which has members spanning across multiple countries, including South Korea, India, and Switzerland, also made an appearance at the awards, claiming Push Performance of the Year.
The K-pop industry also reared its head with New Zealand–South Korean singer-songwriter bagging the award for Song of the Year with her hit song APT, which was made in collaboration with Bruno Mars. The young singer delivered a heartfelt speech, sharing her appreciation for gaining “equal recognition” in the tough industry.
Ricky Martin received the Latin Icon award, adding a note of celebration to his four-decade-long career. The singer hit the stage, performing some of his classic numbers, including Livin’ La Vida Loca and Maria.
Hip-hop veteran Busta Rhymes was also awarded the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, with the singer delivering a stellar performance alongside GloRilla, Spliff Star, and Joyer Lucas at the event.
The awards also paid tribute to the late legend Ozzy Osbourne, with British singer Yungblud teaming up with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith to deliver a touching rendition of Black Sabbath numbers, including the hit song Mama, I’m Coming Home.
