A Star-Studded Night in New York
Music fans are gearing up for one of the industry’s most anticipated events, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. The ceremony is set to broadcast live from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sunday, September 7, at 8 p.m. ET. For the first time in its history, the awards show will air on CBS, in addition to its traditional home on MTV and streaming live on Paramount+. Hosting the evening’s festivities is Grammy-winning artist and actor LL COOL J, who takes the stage for his first solo hosting gig.
Honorees and Headline Performances
This year’s VMAs promises a lineup of unforgettable performances from today’s biggest stars and music legends. Leading nominee Lady Gaga is slated to perform, with reports suggesting her performance of “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” will be a special pre-taped segment from her Mayhem Ball tour stop at Madison Square Garden. Other major artists taking the main stage include Sabrina Carpenter, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll, and Conan Gray.
The night will also be marked by special honors for several music icons, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com. The legendary Mariah Carey will receive the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and will perform a career-spanning medley of her greatest hits. Ricky Martin will be honored as the first-ever recipient of the Latin Icon Award, while Busta Rhymes will accept the inaugural MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Both Martin and Rhymes are also scheduled to perform.
In a poignant tribute, the VMAs will honor the late Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry will join forces with YUNGBLUD and Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme for a special medley celebrating the Prince of Darkness’s iconic career.
Fierce Competition and Historic Nods
The competition for the coveted “Moon Person” trophy is intense this year. Lady Gaga leads the pack with an impressive 12 nominations, closely followed by her “Die with a Smile” collaborator Bruno Mars with 11, and Kendrick Lamar with 10. Sabrina Carpenter and ROSÉ each secured eight nominations.
The prestigious Video of the Year category features a slate of massive hits:
- Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead”
- Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
A major storyline of the night revolves around the Artist of the Year category, where both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are nominated. The two superstars are currently tied as the most-awarded artists in VMA history with 30 wins each. A victory for either would set a new all-time record. The 2025 ceremony also introduces two new fan-voted categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist.
How to Tune In
Viewers have multiple options to catch the action. The main show begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CBS and MTV. It will also be available to stream on Paramount+. For those with live TV streaming packages, services like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV will carry the broadcast.
The excitement kicks off earlier with the official VMAs pre-show at 7 p.m. ET, hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney. The pre-show will feature red carpet coverage and a performance by the girl group KATSEYE. Additionally, the VMAs Extended Play Stage will spotlight rising talents like Bailey Zimmerman, The Kid LAROI, Lola Young, and Megan Moroney during the main broadcast.
