Singer and this year’s most nominated artist makes return to VMAs stage for first time since 2020 Covid-era performance
Lady Gaga will return to the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7 for her first performance on the show in five years.
MTV announced the addition of Gaga — the most nominated artist at this year’s VMAs with 12 nods — on social media Saturday, just over a week before the 2025 show invades New York’s UBS Arena.
“Need all of my fellow Little Monsters to COME TO THE FRONT! Why, you ask?! Oh, because MOTHER MONSTER HERSELF IS PERFORMING AT THE 2025 #VMAs!!!!” MTV wrote.
However, as Lady Gaga has a Mayhem Ball concert scheduled for September 7 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, her VMA performance will likely take place live from that venue, and not the not-so-nearby UBS Arena.
The singer last performed at the (Covid-era and audience-less) VMAs five years ago, delivering a medley of Chromatica songs alongside guest Ariana Grande; the pair also won Song of the Year that night for “Rain on Me,” while Gaga was awarded Artist of the Year.
This time around, Gaga is up for a dozen awards, most of them tied to her Bruno Mars collaboration “Die With a Smile” (including Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Song), while Gaga herself is up for Artist of the Year and Best Album (Mayhem).
Gaga joins a stacked MTV VMA performance lineup that also includes Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Tate McRae, J Balvin, Sombr, Alex Warren, and Conan Gray. 2025 MTV VMAs Video Vanguard Award recipient Mariah Carey will also perform. Additionally, Busta Rhymes will be recognized with the inaugural MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin is set to receive the first Latin Icon Award.
