ELMONT, NEW YORK – The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards lit up the UBS Arena with a night full of historic wins, powerful performances, and long-overdue recognitions. Broadcast for the first time on CBS, the ceremony celebrated both emerging talent and legendary icons, with major wins across pop, hip-hop, Afrobeats, and beyond.
🎤 Big Winners of the Night
Lady Gaga emerged as the undisputed queen of the evening, claiming four Moon Person trophies, including:
- Artist of the Year
- Best Direction (Abracadabra)
- Best Art Direction (Abracadabra)
- Best Collaboration (with Bruno Mars for Die With a Smile)
Ariana Grande followed close behind with three major wins, including:
- Video of the Year (Brighter Days Ahead)
- Best Pop
- Best Long Form Video
She also took the spotlight to present the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to none other than Mariah Carey, celebrating her groundbreaking contributions to visual music artistry.
Sabrina Carpenter also made her mark, earning three awards:
- Album of the Year (Short n’ Sweet)
- Best Pop Artist
- Best Visual Effects (Manchild)
🏆 Full List of 2025 VMA Winners
🎬 Major Categories
- Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
- Video of the Year: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
- Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
- Album of the Year: Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
- Best New Artist: Alex Warren
- MTV Push Performance of the Year: Katseye – Touch
- Best Long Form Video: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
🎶 Genre-Specific Categories
- Best Pop: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
- Best Hip-Hop: Doechii – Anxiety
- Best Rock: Coldplay – All My Love
- Best R&B: Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous
- Best Alternative: Sombr – Back to Friends
- Best Country: Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?
- Best Latin: Shakira – Soltera
- Best K-Pop: Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – Born Again
- Best Afrobeats: Tyla – Push 2 Start
🤝 Collaboration & Performance
- Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
- Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
🎨 Technical Awards
- Best Direction: Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
- Best Art Direction: Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
- Best Cinematography: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
- Best Editing: Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching
- Best Choreography: Doechii – Anxiety
- Best Visual Effects: Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
🌍 Social Impact
- Video for Good: Charli XCX – Guess ft. Billie Eilish
🎖️ Special Recognition & Historic Firsts
- Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
- Rock the Bells Visionary Award (Inaugural): Busta Rhymes
- Latin Icon Award (Inaugural): Ricky Martin
These honorary awards paid tribute to artists who have shaped the global soundscape across generations and genres.
⚠️ Controversy & Cultural Discussion
Tyla’s win for Best Afrobeats (Push 2 Start) has reignited ongoing debates around genre classification and cultural representation. The South African singer previously stirred controversy with mixed messages about her musical identity—distancing herself from Afrobeats in favor of Amapiano, before later stating she embraces both.
Her back-to-back VMA wins have drawn criticism from some Afrobeats fans and Nigerian artists, who argue her success may overshadow those who helped globalize the genre. Still, her victory highlights the continued international rise of African music and the fusion of continental sounds in global pop culture.
The 2025 VMAs were more than a celebration—they were a statement on the power of music to evolve, connect cultures, and honor both legacy and innovation.
