It’s almost time for the 2025 MTV VMAs! The fan-voted Video Music Awards, known for flashy performances and headline-grabbing red carpet appearances, are Sunday, Sept. 7, and they’ll air on both CBS and MTV. Lady Gaga leads the 2025 VMA nominees with 12 nominations, including Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Album. Her “Die With a Smile” collaborator, Bruno Mars, is close behind with 11 nods. Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Charli xcx and all four BLACKPINK members — Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé — also boast multiple nominations.
This year’s MTV Video Music Awards will feature performances from Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Post Malone, Tate McRae, Conan Gray, Jelly Roll and more. Mariah Carey will receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award, and Ricky Martin will receive the first-ever Latin Icon Award. Both will give special performances. LL Cool J will host the show.
Are you ready to watch? Here’s everything you need to know about tuning into the 2025 VMAs.
How to watch the 2025 VMAs:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 7
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
TV channel: CBS, MTV
Streaming: Paramount+ Premium
When are the 2025 VMAs?
The 2025 VMAs are this Sunday, Sept. 7.
MTV VMAs start time:
The VMAs will start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
MTV VMAs TV channel:
The 2025 MTV VMAs will air on CBS and will be simulcast on MTV.
To celebrate the VMAs, several MTV channels (MTV2, MTV Live, MTV Classic and Pluto channel MTV Biggest Pop) will be airing current and classic music videos 24/7 in the week leading up to the awards. So if you’re feeling nostalgic, tune into MTV’s suite of channels.
MTV VMAs streaming:
You can stream the 2025 VMAs live on Paramount+ with a Paramount+ Premium subscription, which includes livestream access to your local CBS channel. If you’re a Paramount+ Essential subscriber, you’ll be able to stream the awards show on demand the day after it airs, but you won’t be able to watch live.
Paramount+ is having a fall sale, so you can grab a Paramount+ Premium annual subscription for 50% off ahead of the MTV VMAs.
When is the VMAs red carpet?
Leading up to the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, there will be a pre-show with red carpet coverage 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.
How to watch the 2025 MTV VMAs live without cable:Who is hosting the 2025 MTV VMAs?
LL Cool J will host the 2025 MTV VMAs. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
LL Cool J will host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
2025 MTV VMAs performers list:
Sabrina Carpenter, who performed at last year’s awards, will take the stage again this year, alongside Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Post Malone, Tate McRae, Conan Gray, Jelly Roll, Busta Rhymes, J Balvin with DJ Snake, Alex Warren and Sombr.
Mariah Carey will also perform in honor of her receiving this year’s Video Vanguard Award. Ricky Martin will perform and receive the first-ever Latin Icon Award.
2025 VMAs presenters:
Ashlee Simpson Ross, Brittany Snow, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, KPop Demon Hunter’s EJAE, REI AMI + Audrey Nuna (Huntr/x), Ice Spice, Jessica Simpson, Latto, Livvy Dunne, Malin Akerman, Megan Stalter, Nikki Glaser and Paris Hilton are all slated to present at the 2025 VMAs.
2025 MTV VMA 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 and Playboi Carti, “Timeless”
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
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 and Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”
Lorde, “What Was That”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Tate McRae, “Sports Car”
The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, “Timeless”
Best New Artist
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
sombr
The Marías
Best Pop Artist
Ariana Grande
Charli xcx
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
MTV Push Performance of the Year
Aug. 2024 – Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Sept. 2024 – Ayra Starr, “Last Heartbreak Song”
Oct 2024 – Mark Ambor, “Belong Together”
Nov. 2024 – Lay Bankz, “Graveyard”
Dec. 2024 – Dasha, “Bye Bye Bye”
Jan. 2025 – KATSEYE, “Touch”
Feb. 2025 – Jordan Adetunji, “KEHLANI”
March 2025 – Leon Thomas, “YES IT IS”
April 2025 – Livingston, “Shadow”
May 2025 – Damiano David, “Next Summer”
June 2025 – Gigi Perez, “Sailor Song”
July 2025 – Role Model, “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”
Best Collaboration
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs, “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “luther”
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton, “Pour Me A Drink”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Selena Gomez and benny blanco, “Sunset Blvd.”
Best Pop
Alex Warren, “Ordinary”
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Ed Sheeran, “Sapphire”
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
Best Hip-Hop
Doechii, “Anxiety”
Drake, “NOKIA”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll, “Somebody Save Me”
GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red, “Watch Kno About Me”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
LL COOL J ft. Eminem, “Murdergram Deux”
Travis Scott, “4X4”
Best R&B
Chris Brown, “Residuals”
Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs, “MUTT (REMIX)”
Mariah Carey, “Type Dangerous”
PARTYNEXTDOOR, “N o C h i l l”
Summer Walker, “Heart Of A Woman”
SZA, “Drive”
The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, “Timeless”
Best Alternative
Gigi Perez, “Sailor Song”
Imagine Dragons, “Wake Up”
Lola Young, “Messy”
mgk and Jelly Roll, “Lonely Road”
sombr, “back to friends”
The Marías, “Back To Me”
Best Rock
Coldplay, “All My Love”
Evanescence, “Afterlife (from the Netflix series Devil May Cry)”
Green Day, “One Eyed Bastard”
Lenny Kravitz, “Honey”
Linkin Park, “The Emptiness Machine”
twenty one pilots, “The Contract”
Best Latin
Bad Bunny, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”
J Balvin, “Rio”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Peso Pluma, “LA PATRULLA”
Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos, “Khé?”
Shakira, “Soltera”
Best K-Pop
aespa, “Whiplash”
JENNIE, “like JENNIE”
Jimin, “Who”
JISOO, “earthquake”
LISA ft. Doja Cat and RAYE, “Born Again”
Stray Kids, “Chk Chk Boom”
ROSÉ, “toxic till the end”
Best Afrobeats
Asake and Travis Scott, “Active”
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott, “TaTaTa”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea, “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)”
Rema, “Baby (Is It A Crime)”
Tems ft. Asake, “Get It Right”
Tyla, “PUSH 2 START”
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz, “Piece Of My Heart”
Best Country
Chris Stapleton, “Think I’m In Love With You”
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You”
Jelly Roll, “Liar”
Lainey Wilson, “4x4xU”
Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?”
Morgan Wallen, “Smile”
Best Album
Bad Bunny, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Kendrick Lamar, GNX
Lady Gaga, Mayhem
Morgan Wallen, I’m The Problem
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow
Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Bad Bunny, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)”
Damiano David, “FUNNY little STORIES”
Mac Miller, “Balloonerism”
Miley Cyrus, “Something Beautiful”
The Weeknd, “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Video for Good
Burna Boy, “Higher”
Charli xcx, “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Doechii, “Anxiety”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll, “Somebody Save Me”
Selena Gomez, benny blanco, “Younger And Hotter Than Me”
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan, “Sleepwalking”
Best Direction
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Charli xcx, “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
Best Art Direction
Charli xcx, “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Lorde, “Man Of The Year”
Miley Cyrus, “End of the World”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Ed Sheeran, “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Miley Cyrus, “Easy Lover”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
Best Editing
Charli xcx, “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Ed Sheeran, “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching”
Best Choreography
Doechii, “Anxiety”
FKA twigs, “Eusexua”
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Tyla, “PUSH 2 START”
Zara Larsson, “Pretty Ugly”
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching“
The Weeknd, “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Social Categories:
Best Group
aespa
All Time Low
Backstreet Boys
BLACKPINK
Coldplay
Evanescence
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Imagine Dragons
Jonas Brothers
KATSEYE
My Chemical Romance
SEVENTEEN
Stray Kids
The Marías
twenty one pilots
Song of the Summer
Addison Rae, “Headphones On”
Alex Warren, “Ordinary”
Benson Boone, “Mystical Magical”
BigXthaPlugg ft. Bailey Zimmerman, “All The Way”
Chappell Roan, “The Subway”
Demi Lovato, “Fast”
Doja Cat, “Jealous Type”
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, “Golden”
Jessie Murph, “Blue Strips”
Justin Bieber, “Daisies”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea, “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)”
Morgan Wallen ft. Tate McRae, “What I Want”
Ravyn Lenae ft. Rex Orange County, “Love Me Not”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
sombr, “12 to 12”
Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching”