The MTV Video Music Awards are back and expected to bring some of the biggest names in music together once again.
The 2025 VMAs, where fans vote for their top artists, songs and performances over the past year, air Sunday, Sept. 7, with LL Cool J set to host.
Lady Gaga leads the nominations with 12 nods, with Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter and The Weeknd among the top competitors.
Sabrina Carpenter is set to perform during the 2025 VMAs.Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
This year brings first-time nominations to 33 artists, including Blake Shelton, Gigi Perez, Lainey Wilson, Mac Miller and Role Model, among others.
In addition to the awards, the VMAs showcase a night full of extravagant performances. The upcoming show has Carpenter, Post Malone, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll, Conan Gray, Sombr and more slated to perform.
The VMAs also celebrate musicians with various honorary awards. This year, Mariah Carey is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award and perform a “career-spanning medley of her biggest hits.”
Meanwhile, Busta Rhymes is expected to be awarded the MTV VMA Rock The Bells Visionary Award. Ricky Martin is set to receive the VMAs first-ever Latin Icon Award.
Read on for how and when to watch the VMAs.
When Are the VMAs?
The 2025 VMAs will take place Sunday, Sept. 7.
What Time Are the VMAs?
The VMAs will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
While the VMAs do not have a set end time, the award show has historically lasted about three hours.
Where Are the VMAs?
The VMAs will be held at UBS Arena on Long Island in New York.
How to Watch the VMAs
The VMAs will be broadcast live Sunday night on MTV and CBS, as well as on streaming platforms with cable options like Hulu and YouTube TV.
The award show will also be streamed live on Paramount+ for premium plan subscribers.
What to know about the VMAs Pre-Show
Before all the action kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, radio and TV personalities Nessa and Kevan Kenney will host a VMAs pre-show. The pre-show will also include a performance from KATSEYE, a girl group that was formed through the reality competition show “Dream Academy.”
The pre-show starts at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and will run for one hour. The pre-show is available to watch on MTV, BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1.
How to Vote for the VMAs
Any person over the age of 12 can vote in the VMAs polls and is allowed up to 10 votes per day.
For most categories, voting ended Friday, Sept. 5. Voting in the category of best new artist ends the same day as the VMAs, Sunday, Sept. 7.