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Live from the UBS Arena in New York for the second time, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will be a star-studded evening — as expected! Weeks after the nominees were unveiled, MTV has released its first batch of performers, and it includes some of the music industry’s biggest names. From pop icons to rap leaders, we’ve got the first round of performers listed below.

When Are the 2025 Video Music Awards?

The 2025 VMAs are set to take place Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

VMAs 2025 Performers

MTV released the first round of performers three weeks before the VMAs. The performance lineup currently includes the following:

• Sabrina Carpenter
• Ricky Martin
• Alex Warren
• Busta Rhymes
• J Balvin ft. DJ Snake
• sombr

The second batch of performers has not been unveiled at the time of publication. At the 2024 VMAs, Sabrina delivered a memorable show. While belting out her biggest hits from “Espresso” to “Please Please Please,” Sabrina was accompanied by spacemen and aliens, one of whom she shared a kiss with mid-performance. She was also recognized with the VMA for Song of the Year.

In addition to performing, Ricky is also receiving the Latin Icon Award at this year’s VMAs. Busta Rhymes will also receive the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award.

As for the coveted Video Vanguard Award, this year’s recipient is Mariah Carey.

How to Watch the 2025 VMAs: Can I Stream the Awards Show?

The VMAs will be simulcast on CBS and MTV, and viewers with the Paramount+ Premium plan can watch the awards show live.

Those with the Paramount+ basic plan cannot watch the VMAs live; the show will be available to stream the next day.

2025 VMAs Nominations: Who Are the Nominees?

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
• Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” –  Island
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Artist of the Year

• Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
• Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
• Kendrick Lamar – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – Interscope Records
• Morgan Wallen – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
• Taylor Swift – Republic Records
• The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records

Song of the Year

• Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records
• Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
• Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
• Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry” – Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records
• Lorde – “What Was That” – Republic Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Tate McRae – “Sports Car” – RCA Records
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Best New Artist

• Alex Warren – Atlantic Records
• Ella Langley – SAWGOD/Columbia Records
• Gigi Perez – Island
• Lola Young – Island
• sombr – SMB Music/Warner Records
• The Marías – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Pop Artist

• Ariana Grande – Republic Records
• Charli xcx – Atlantic Records
• Justin Bieber – Def Jam Recordings
• Lorde – Republic Records
• Miley Cyrus – Columbia Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – Island
• Tate McRae – RCA Records

MTV Push Performance of the Year

• Aug 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE
• Sept 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin Records/Republic Records
• Oct 2024 – Mark Ambor- “Belong Together” – Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music
• Nov 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard” – Artist Partner Group Inc.
• Dec 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye” – Warner Records
• Jan 2025 – KATSEYE – “Touch” – HYBE/Geffen Records
• Feb 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI” – 300 Entertainment
• Mar 2025 – Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records
• Apr 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow” – Republic Records
• May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” – Sony Italy/Arista Records
• June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
• July 2025 – ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” – Interscope Records

Best Collaboration

• Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records
• Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink” – Mercury Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

Best Pop

• Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records
• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Record
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Hip-Hop

• Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
• Drake – “NOKIA” – OVO/Santa Anna/Republic
• Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
• GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – CMG/Interscope Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• LL COOL J ft. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux” – Def Jam Recordings
• Travis Scott – “4X4” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records

Best R&B

• Chris Brown – “Residuals” – Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records
• Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records
• Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – gamma.
• PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l” – OVO Sound
• Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman” – LVRN/Interscope Records
• SZA – “Drive” – Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Best Alternative

• Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
• Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up” – KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records
• Lola Young – “Messy” – Island
• mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” – EST 19XX/Interscope Records
• sombr – “back to friends” – SMB Music/Warner Records
• The Marías – “Back To Me” – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Rock

• Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE” – Atlantic Records
• Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)” – Netflix Music
• Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” – Reprise Records/Warner Records
• Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH
• Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine” – Warner Records
• twenty one pilots – “The Contract” – Fueled By Ramen

Best Latin

• Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” – Rimas Entertainment
• J Balvin – “Rio” – Capitol Records
• KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records
• Peso Pluma – “LA PATRULLA” – Double P Records
• Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” – Sony Music US Latin
• Shakira – “Soltera“ – Sony Music US Latin

Best K-Pop

• aespa – “Whiplash” – SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group
• JENNIE – “like JENNIE” – OA Entertainment/Columbia Records
• Jimin – “Who” – BIGHIT MUSIC
• JISOO – “earthquake” – Warner Records
• LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again” – Lloud Co./RCA Records
• Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom” – JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic
• ROSÉ – “toxic till the end” – Atlantic Records

Best Afrobeats

• Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” – YBNL Nation/EMPIRE
• Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
• MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)” – gamma.
• Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records
• Tems ft. Asake – “Get It Right” – RCA Records/Since ’93
• Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records
• Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece Of My Heart” – Starboy/RCA Records

Best Country

• Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You” – Mercury Nashville
• Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville
• Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records
• Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records
• Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records
• Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

Best Album

• Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Rimas Entertainment
• Kendrick Lamar – GNX – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – Mayhem – Interscope Records
• Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet – Island
• The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow – XO/Republic Records

Best Long Form Video

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
• Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” – Rimas Entertainment
• Damiano David – “FUNNY little STORIES” – Sony Italy/Arista Records
• Mac Miller – “Balloonerism” – Warner Records
• Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful” – Columbia Records
• The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records

Video for Good

• Burna Boy – “Higher” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
• Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
• Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
• Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
• Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Younger And Hotter Than Me” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
• Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking” – Arista Records

Best Direction

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
• Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Art Direction

• Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• Lorde – “Man Of The Year” – Republic Records
• Miley Cyrus – “End of the World” – Columbia Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Best Cinematography

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover” – Columbia Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Editing

• Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
• Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)” – Atlantic Records

Best Choreography

• Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records
• FKA twigs – “Eusexua” – Atlantic Records
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records
• Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly” – Epic Records

Best Visual Effects

• Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records
• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
• Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie) “ – Atlantic Records
• The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records