From Lady Gaga winning four awards and then immediately dashing to Madison Square Garden to Mariah Carey being handed her very first Moonman, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards were definitely one to remember!
Held on Sept. 7, 2025, in New York’s UBS Arena, the 2025 VMAs were broadcast for the very first time on CBS. The show saw its largest audience in six years, garnering more than 5.5 million viewers. Often called the “Super Bowl” for the youth, this annual event awards the biggest names in music while also serving as a stage for unforgettable performances.
During this year’s ceremony, hosted by LL Cool J, countless artists showed up glamorously dressed and ready to take home a Moonman. This shiny trophy looks exactly as it sounds: a silver astronaut in full gear, holding a flagpole with the MTV flag atop it.
Lady Gaga undoubtedly dominated the night, leading with a whopping 12 nominations and walking away with four awards: “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” for her song “Die With a Smile” with Bruno Mars, “Best Direction,” and “Best Art Direction” for her song “Abracadabra.”
Shortly after being announced as the winner and giving a heartfelt shoutout to her fiancé, Michael Polansky, Gaga regretfully told the audience, “I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden.” On the same night of the VMAs, she had a performance as part of her Mayhem Ball tour, so she rushed back to New York City for her waiting fans.
Ariana Grande made waves with seven nominations and three awards: “Video of the Year,” “Best Pop,” and “Best Long Form Video” for her song “Brighter Days Ahead.” Her acceptance speeches were especially memorable; as she took the stage to accept her Moonmen, she iconically announced, “…thank you to my therapist and gay people. I love you.”
Tied with Grande for awards, Sabrina Carpenter secured three statues for “Best Pop Artist,” “Best Album” for “Short n’ Sweet,” and “Best Visual Effects” for her song “Manchild.” During her very first performance of her song “Tears,” which is part of her recently released album “Man’s Best Friend,” Carpenter took a stand. Not only did she turn the stage into a 1980s New York street and make a theatrical entrance from a pothole, she also danced with drag queens holding up signs regarding transgender rights. After her performance, she thanked the “queens onstage with me tonight.”
While many artists took home awards to add to their already impressive collection, others started theirs on Sunday night.
Mariah Carey, five-time Grammy winner and one of the best-selling artists of all time, won her first two Moonmen at this year’s awards: “Best R&B” for her song “Type Dangerous” and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. During her speech, she jokingly called out MTV for waiting so long: “I just have one question: What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?"
Other notable winners from this year’s award ceremony include Rosé and Bruno Mars taking home “Song of the Year” for “APT,” Alex Warren winning “Best New Artist,” and Ricky Martin earning the new Latin Icon Award.
There were many other outstanding performances throughout the night, including Conan Gray singing “Vodka Cranberry” with friend and fellow artist Corey Fogelmanis. They took the stage as a queer version of Romeo and Juliet, blowing fans away.
A heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne was performed by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, English singer Yungblud, and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The group came together to put on a beautiful show for the founder of Black Sabbath, who died in July of this year.
If you’re curious to know every winner and performer from this year, a full list can be found here.
All in all, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards had no shortage of iconic moments. The night was a blend of dazzling visuals and chaotic energy, featuring pop glamour, fierce statements, and long-overdue honors.
