The biggest names in music gathered at the at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.
Ashlee Simpson, 40, kicked off the red carpet in style, wearing a sexy black gown that laced up on the sides.
She paired the sizzling dress with open-toe black heels, and wore her auburn tresses in mermaid waves.
Her husband Evan Ross, 37, joined her on the red carpet, looking dapper in a dark suit.
Tate McRae, 22, looked like a grecian goddess in a flowing sheer white gown.
Taylor Momsen, 32, made a bold, grunge-inspired entrance, flaunting her toned six-pack abs in a black bra and leather skirt.
Tate McRae and Ashlee Simpson flashed the flesh in very revealing gowns
The Gossip Girl star accessorized with silver pendants, and wore her platinum tresses in loose waves. The actress and singer completed the look with chunky black boots.
Country star Dasha looked red hot in a scarlet dress with sheer lace panels.
Watchmen star Malin Akerman, 47, wowed in a strapless metallic silver gown.
Brittany Snow, 39, was a vision in a strapless metallic gold dress, with her blonde tresses styles in loose curls.
Country darling Megan Moroney, 27, flashed her toned midriff in a metallic top and a white skirt with a slit on the side.
Love Island USA star Olandria Carthen put on a very busty display in a sheer red corset style dress.
Model Lolo Wood looked like a princess in a sparkling pink mini dress.
Shenseea, 28, put her phenomenal figure on display in a gold mini dress.
Jazmyn Smith went shirtless under a structured grey top paired with a matching mini skirt.
Ricky Martin, 53, wore a halfway unbuttoned blue silk shirt with oversized black pants.
Valentina sizzled in a plunging black sequin gown with a matching choker.
Colin Kaepernick and his wife Nessa opted for sporty ensembles on the red carpet.
YouTube star MrBeast attended the event with his fiancé Thea Booysen.
She wore smokey eye makeup for the occasion
She paired the sizzling dress with open-toe black heels, and wore her auburn tresses in mermaid waves
The bottom of the ensemble featured a fringe
Her husband Evan Ross, 37, joined her on the red carpet, looking dapper in a dark suit
The lovebirds gave each other a sweet kiss
Tate McRae, 22, looked like a grecian goddess in a flowing sheer white gown
Her white underwear peeked out from underneath the sultry gown
The hitmaker wore delicate glam for the occasion
Brittany Snow, 39, was a vision in a strapless metallic gold dress, with her blonde tresses styles in loose curls
Country star Dasha looked red hot in a scarlet dress with sheer lace panels
She teamed the look with a red lace choker
Watchmen star Malin Akerman, 47, wowed in a strapless metallic silver gown
Country darling Megan Moroney, 27, flashed her toned midriff in a metallic top and a white skirt with a slit on the side
Taylor Momsen, 32, made a bold, grunge-inspired entrance, flaunting her toned six-pack abs in a black bra and leather skirt
The Gossip Girl star accessorized with silver pendants, and wore her platinum tresses in loose waves
Dark eyeshadow drew attention to her magnetic eyes
She accessorized with a studded belt
The actress and singer completed the look with chunky black boots
Shenseea, 28, put her phenomenal figure on display in a gold mini dress
No doubt all eyes will be on Lady Gaga as she is making her long-awaited return to the award show after a five-year absence.
The 39-year-old music superstar is up for the most awards of the night as she was nominated for 12 including top honor Video Of The Year for her duet with Bruno Mars titled Dying With A Smile.
Gaga already has 18 VMA wins under her belt and her fans are anticipating her to add even more accolades this year.
This year also marks the third time that Gaga led MTV’s list of VMA nominees.
She previously topped the list with 13 nods in 2010 and again in 2020 tying for first with nine total nominations.
The Bad Romance hitmaker is followed by her collaborator Bruno Mars who has 11 nominations and Kendrick Lamar has the third most nominations with ten.
Taylor Swift did not release a single or album in the last year so she is only up for one award in the Artist Of The Year category.
Last week Gaga – born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – announced that she would also be returning to the stage for a performance.
Model Lolo Wood looked like a princess in a sparkling pink mini dress
The dress highlighted her toned arms
Love Island USA star Olandria Carthen put on a very busty display in a sheer red corset style dress
Valentina sizzled in a plunging black sequin gown with a matching choker
Jazmyn Smith kicked off the red carpet, going shirtless under a structured grey top paired with a matching mini skirt
Ricky Martin, 53, wore a halfway unbuttoned blue silk shirt with oversized black pants
YouTube star MrBeast attended the event with his fiancé Thea Booysen
The duo put one a loved-up display
Colin Kaepernick and his wife Nessa opted for sporty ensembles
No doubt all eyes will be on Lady Gaga as she is making her long-awaited return to the award show after a five-year absence
The last time Gaga performed at the VMAs, she took the stage with Ariana Grande to perform their chart-topping dance-pop collaboration, Rain On Me, in 2020
Sabrina Carpenter is also set to perform at the event as she will compete against Gaga for top honor Video of the Year for Manchild
She will be joining the highly anticipated lineup including Doja Cat, Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter, Post Malone, Tate McRae and J Balvin among many more.
The last time Gaga performed at the VMAs, she took the stage with Ariana Grande to perform their chart-topping dance-pop collaboration, Rain On Me, in 2020.
Presenters for the event include the likes of Ciara, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Nikki Glaser, Paris Hilton, Livvy Dunne, and Ice Spice.
Rapper and actor LL Cool J is host of the event which will air for the first time on major network CBS as it will also stream on the premium tier of Paramount+ and simulcast on MTV.
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 nominees in full
Video of the Year, Presented by Burger King®
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Artist of the Year
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Taylor Swift’s lone nomination was in the Artist of the Year category
Song of the Year
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Doechii – Anxiety
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Gracie Abrams – I Love You, I’m Sorry
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Tate McRae – Sports Car
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Best New Artist
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
Sombr
The Marías
Best Pop Artist
Ariana Grande
Charli XCX
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Tate McRae
Justin Bieber is one of the names in star-studded category Best Pop Artist
MTV Push Performance of the Year, Presented by Bacardí® Rum
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Damiano David – Next Summer
Dasha – Bye Bye Bye
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
Katseye – Touch
Lay Bankz – Graveyard
Leon Thomas – Yes It Is
Livingston – Shadow
Mark Ambor – Belong Together
Role Model – Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Best Collaboration, Presented by Under Armour
Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs – Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Post Malone Featuring Blake Shelton – Pour Me a Drink
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – Sunset Blvd
Best Pop
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Sabrina Carpenter is up for Best Pop for her music video for Manchild
Best Hip-Hop
Doechii – Anxiety
Drake – Nokia
Eminem Featuring Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Glorilla Featuring Sexyy Red – Whatchu Kno About Me
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
LL Cool J Featuring Eminem – Murdergram Deux
Travis Scott – 4×4
Best R&B
Chris Brown – Residuals
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – Mutt (Remix)
Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous
PartyNextDoor – No Chill
Summer Walker – Heart of a Woman
SZA – Drive
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Best Alternative
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Imagine Dragons – Wake Up
Lola Young – Messy
MGK & Jelly Roll – Lonely Road
Sombr – Back to Friends
The Marías – Back to Me
Best Rock
Coldplay – All My Love
Evanescence – Afterlife (From the Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)
Green Day – One Eyed Bastard
Lenny Kravitz – Honey
Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine
Twenty One Pilots – The Contract
Best Latin
Bad Bunny – Baile Inolvidable
J Balvin – Rio
Karol G – Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
Peso Pluma – La Patrulla
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – Khé?
Shakira – Soltera
Karol G will be facing off against Bad Bunny in the Best Latin category
Best K-Pop
Aespa – Whiplash
Jennie – Like Jennie
Jimin – Who
Jisoo – Earthquake
Lisa Featuring Doja Cat & Raye – Born Again
Stray Kids – Chk Chk Boom
Rosé – Toxic Till the End
Best Afrobeats
Asake & Travis Scott – Active
Burna Boy Featuring Travis Scott – TaTaTa
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)
Rema – Baby (Is It A Crime)
Tems Featuring Asake – Get It Right
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Wizkid Featuring Brent Faiyaz – Piece of My Heart
Tyla is up for Best Afrobeats
Best Country
Chris Stapleton – Think I’m in Love With You
Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You
Jelly Roll – Liar
Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?
Morgan Wallen – Smile
Best Album
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem is up for Best Album a she has the most nominations with 12
Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Short Film)
Damiano David – Funny Little Stories
Mac Miller – Balloonerism
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Video for Good
Burna Boy – Higher
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Doechii – Anxiety
Eminem Featuring Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – Younger and Hotter Than Me
Zach Hood Featuring Sasha Alex Sloan – Sleepwalking
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Lorde – Man of the Year
Miley Cyrus – End of the World
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Charli xcx and Billie Eilish are up for three awards for their Guess (Remix) video
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Miley Cyrus – Easy Lover
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Editing
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)
Best Choreography
Doechii – Anxiety
FKA twigs – Eusexua
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Zara Larsson – Pretty Ugly
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Best Group
Aespa
All Time Low
Backstreet Boys
Blackpink
Coldplay
Evanescence
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Imagine Dragons
Jonas Brothers
Katseye
The Marías
My Chemical Romance
Seventeen
Stray Kids
Twenty One Pilots
Katseye face heavy competition for Best Group
Song of the Summer
Addison Rae – Headphones On
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Benson Boone – Mystical Magical
BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – All the Way
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Demi Lovato – Fast
Doja Cat – Jealous Type
Huntr/x – Golden
Jessie Murph – Blue Strips
Justin Bieber – Daisies
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)
Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae – What I Want
Ravyn Lenae Featuring Rex Orange County – Love Me Not
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Sombr – 12 to 12
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)
