MTV VMAs 2025 Winners: Gaga’s Triumph, Grande’s Shine & All The Night’s Surprises
Lights, sequins, tears, and those famous Moon Person trophies — the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at New York’s UBS Arena were a high-decibel celebration of pop culture, dazzling performances, and a few genuine surprises.
Whether you live for the Gaga entrances or cringe at awkward host bits (LL Cool J had some delightful dad jokes, by the way), this year’s VMAs felt like the real thing: not just another awards show, but a night artists and fans will talk about for months.
MTV VMAs 2025 Winners
The VMAs have always been unpredictable, but this year, the star power felt especially dialed up. Lady Gaga claimed Artist of the Year and strutted her stuff both in the arena and (in true Gaga fashion) via a late-night MSG simulcast — all after missing a Miami show thanks to a strained voice.
There’s something endlessly relatable about running from gig to gig, right? Meanwhile, Ariana Grande took her moment back with “Brighter Days Ahead,” scoring both Video of the Year and Best Pop, delivering visuals that managed to be inventive, joyful, and just weird enough for the VMAs.
Watching Rosé and Bruno Mars light up the stage together felt like a fever dream with “APT.,” which netted them Song of the Year honors. There was genuine emotion in the crowd (saw more than one mascara river), especially when Rosé became the first K-pop star to snag that award.
And Sabrina Carpenter kept her winning streak alive — a “short n’ sweet” rise, you might call it — with three wins, including Best Album. Mariah Carey, the eternal icon, was rightfully honored with the Video Vanguard Award, and if you didn’t belt out “Emotions” from your couch, check your pulse.
A few informal highlights:
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Alex Warren took home Best New Artist, proving viral success (and TikTok dance skills) can translate on real-life stages.
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Blackpink earned Best Group, their fan base erupting online in ways only K-pop can inspire — my Twitter feed is still recovering.
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Doechii’s “Anxiety” grabbed Best Hip-Hop and Best Choreography, infusing raw reality into the performance.
MTV VMAs 2025 Full Winners List
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Video of the Year: Ariana Grande – "brighter days ahead" (Republic Records)
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Artist Of The Year: Lady Gaga (Interscope Records)
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Song Of The Year: ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – "APT." (Atlantic Records)
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Best New Artist: Alex Warren (Atlantic Records)
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Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter (Island)
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MTV Push Performance Of The Year: KATSEYE – "Touch" (HYBE/Geffen Records)
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Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – "Die with a Smile" (Interscope Records)
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Best Pop: Ariana Grande – "brighter days ahead" (Republic Records)
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Best Hip-Hop: Doechii – "Anxiety" (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
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Best R&B: Mariah Carey – "Type Dangerous" (gamma.)
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Best Alternative: sombr – "back to friends" (SMB Music/Warner Records)
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Best Rock: Coldplay – "ALL MY LOVE" (Atlantic Records)
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Best Latin: Shakira – "Soltera" (Sony Music Us Latin)
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Best K-Pop: LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – "Born Again" (Lloud Co./RCA Records)
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Best Afrobeats: Tyla – "PUSH 2 START" (FAX Records/Epic Records)
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Best Country: Megan Moroney – "Am I Okay?" (Columbia Records)
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Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter – "Short n' Sweet" (Island)
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Best Long Form Video: Ariana Grande – "brighter days ahead" (Republic Records)
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Video For Good: Charli xcx – "Guess featuring Billie Eilish" (Atlantic Records)
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Best Direction: Lady Gaga – "Abracadabra" (Interscope Records)
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Best Art Direction: Lady Gaga – "Abracadabra" (Interscope Records)
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Best Cinematography: Kendrick Lamar – "Not Like Us" (pgLang/Interscope Records)
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Best Editing: Tate McRae – "Just Keep Watching (from F1® The Movie)" (Atlantic Records)
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Best Choreography: Doechii – "Anxiety" (Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
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Best Visual Effects: Sabrina Carpenter – "Manchild" (Island)
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Best Group: BLACKPINK
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Song Of The Summer: Tate McRae – "Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)" (Atlantic Records)
Special Honours
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Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
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Rock the Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
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Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
Where To Watch the MTV VMAs?
If you missed the chaos and the magic in real time, you’ve still got options. The big news this year: the VMAs aired live on CBS for the first time ever (finally, grandma’s TV picked up something fun).
MTV carried the torch as always, and if you’re on Paramount+ (premium, not the cheap one — ouch), you had the stream. Some folks were still huddled around choppy YouTube livestreams, but hey, tradition is tradition.
And if you really want recaps in HD, the highlight clips and full winner speeches are everywhere — MTV.com, CBS.com, and even the big entertainment outlets like Billboard and Rolling Stone.
If you’re just in it for the fashion or those jaw-dropping performances, check the official Instagram and Twitter feeds. I’m pretty sure there were more Moon Person emojis posted Sunday night than ever before.
