MTV VMAs 2025: Complete list of this year's winners
Photo: Lady Gaga (instagram.com/ladygaga)
The 42nd MTV Video Music Awards ceremony took place in New York. It is one of the brightest events in the music calendar, celebrating the best music videos, artists, and tracks that define the sound of the era since 1984. Here is who won this year's MTV VMA awards.
The main trophy of the evening, Video of the Year, went to Ariana Grande for her short film "Brighter Days Ahead."
Additionally, Ariana Grande took the stage to personally present Mariah Carey with the honorary Video Vanguard Award (also known as the Michael Jackson Award) for her outstanding contribution to pop culture.
The absolute triumph of this year's ceremony was Lady Gaga. She won four awards, including Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, as well as the best direction and art direction of her video "Abracadabra."
All MTV Video Music Awards 2025 winners:
Video of the Year – Ariana Grande, "Brighter Days Ahead"
Artist of the Year – Lady Gaga
Song of the Year – Rosé & Bruno Mars, APT.
Best Album – Sabrina Carpenter, "Short'n'Sweet"
Best Music Group – Blackpink
Best New Artist – Alex Warren
Best Pop Artist – Sabrina Carpenter
MTV Push Performance of the Year – KATSEYE, Touch
Best Collaboration – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, "Die With a Smile"
Best Pop Video – Ariana Grande, "Brighter Days Ahead"
Best Hip-Hop Video – Doechii, "Anxiety"
Best R'n'B Video – Mariah Carey, "Type Dangerous"
Best Alternative Video – Sombr, "Back to Friends"
Best Rock Video – Coldplay, "All My Love"
Best Latin Video – Shakira, "Soltera"
Best K-Pop Video – Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, "Born Again"
Song of the Summer – Tate McRae, "Just Keep Watching"
Best Afrobeats Video – Tyla, "Push 2 Start"
Best Country Video – Megan Moroney, "Am I Okay?"
Best Longform Video – Ariana Grande, "Brighter Days Ahead"
Best Direction – Lady Gaga, "Abracadabra"
Best Art Direction – Lady Gaga, "Abracadabra"
Best Cinematography – Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"
Best Choreography – Doechii, "Anxiety"
Best Visual Effects – Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild"
Who lit up MTV VMA 2025 stage
While many winners were celebrated, the real show unfolded not only during the awards presentations but also on stage.
Sabrina Carpenter was unquestionably the star of the ceremony. She delivered an emotional and politically charged performance of her new single "Tears."
Particularly striking was a banner reading DOLLS DOLLS DOLLS, a direct reference to the PROTECT THE DOLLS movement advocating for transgender rights.
Through this, Carpenter publicly protested repressive laws limiting LGBTQ+ rights under US President Donald Trump's administration.
That same evening, Sabrina also received musical recognition. Her album "Short'n'Sweet" won Best Pop Album.
The ceremony also brought legends to the stage—Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, and Busta Rhymes—giving the audience a genuine nostalgic vibe.
The emotional climax of the evening was the joint performance by Yungblud and Aerosmith in honor of the memory of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic rocker who passed away earlier this year.
Previously, we reported that Jamala became the music producer for Ukraine's Eurovision 2026 selection.
