2025 Video Music Awards Nominees Announced

The nominees for the 2025 Video Music Awards have been revealed. Leading the nominations is Lady Gaga with 12 nods, but she’s not alone. Newcomers like Blake Shelton and Rainey Wilson, alongside the late rapper Mac Miller, have also received their first nominations.

Bruno Mars follows closely with 11 nominations, and Kendrick Lamar secured 10. The competition remains fierce in the top categories, especially with Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who are longtime contenders for the most VMA wins. Both have only one nomination this year, making the stakes particularly high. Swift is up against artists like Bad Bunny, Morgan Wallen, The Weeknd, and Lamar, which complicates things further.

Beyoncé, with a remarkable 30 VMAs accumulated—26 as a solo artist, two with Destiny’s Child, and two alongside her husband Jay-Z—faces Swift, who tied her record after winning seven VMAs last year.

Fans are probably curious whether Swift will make an appearance at this year’s ceremony. She had quite the successful run in 2024, taking home seven awards during that show.

Can Fans Vote for VMA?

Yes, fans have the chance to vote for winners in 19 categories, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year, until September 5, at 6 PM. Voting is available online.

How to Stream the VMA:

The awards show will be broadcast live from UBS Arena on CBS on September 7 and can also be streamed on Paramount+.

Complete List of 2025 VMA Nominees:

This year’s video:

• Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” – Republic Records
• Billy Eilish – “Feather Bird” – Darkroom/Interscope
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – Pglang/Interscope
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope
• Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic Records
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Artist of the Year:

• Bad Bunny – Limas Entertainment
• Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
• Kendrick Lamar – Pglang/Interscope
• Lady Gaga – Interscope
• Morgan Wallen – A Loud and Loud Record/Mercury
• Taylor Swift – Republic Records
• The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records

This year’s song:

• Alex Warren – “Normal” – Atlantic Records
• Billy Eilish – “Feather Bird” – Darkroom/Interscope
• Dokii – “Anxiety” – Top Dog Entertainment/Capitol
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbreadman/Atlantic
• Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, Sorry” – Interscope
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope
• Lord – “What Was It?” – Republic Records
• Rose & 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 – Columbia Records
• Gigi Perez – Island
• Laura Young – Island
• SOMBR – SMB Music/Warner Records
• Maria – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

MTV Push Performance of the Year:

• August 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood/Empire
• September 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin/Republic
• October 2024 – Mark Amber – “Belonging Together” – 100 Days/Virgin Music
• November 2024 – Ray Banks – “Cemetery” – Artist Partner Group
• December 2024 – Dasha – “Goodbye” – Warner Records
• January 2025 – Katseye – “Touch” – Hybe/Geffen
• February 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “Kelani” – 300 Entertainment
• March 2025 – Leon Thomas – “Yes” – Ezmny/Motown
• April 2025 – Livingstone – “Shadow” – Republic Records
• May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” – Sony Italy/Arista
• June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
• July 2025 – Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” – Interscope

Best Pop Artists:

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

Best Collaboration:

• Bailey Zimmerman feat. Luke Combs – “Backup Plan” – Atlantic/Warner Nashville
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther” – Pglang/Interscope
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope
• Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton – “Pouring a Drink on Me” – Mercury
• Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic Records
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – “Sunset Boulevard” – SMG/Interscope

Best Pop:

• Alex Warren – “Normal” – Atlantic
• Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” – Republic
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbreadman/Atlantic
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope
• Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Hip Hop:

• Dokii – “Anxiety” – Top Dog/Capitol
• Drake – “Nokia” – OVO/Santa Anna/Republic
• Eminem feat. Jelly Roll – “Someone Saves Me” – Shady/Interscope
• GloRilla feat. Sexyy Red – “Whatchu Know Bout Me” – CMG/Interscope
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – Pglang/Interscope
• LL Cool J feat. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux” – Def Jam
• Travis Scott – “4×4” – Cactus Jack/Grand

Best R&B:

• Chris Brown – “Residual” – RCA
• Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “Mutt (Remix)” – Ezmny/Motown
• Mariah Carey – “Type Danger” – Gamma
• PartyNextDoor – “Hills” – OVO Sound
• Summer Walker – “Heart of the Armen” – Interscope
• SZA – “Drive” – Top Dawg/RCA
• The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic

Best Alternative:

• Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island
• Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up” – Interscope
• Laura Young – “Mess” – Island
• MGK & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” – Interscope
• SOMBR – “Back to Friends” – Warner
• Marias – “Back to Me” – Atlantic

Best Rock:

• Coldplay – “All My Love” – Atlantic
• Evanescence – “Afterlife” – Netflix Music
• Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” – Reprise/Warner
• Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – Roxie Records
• Linkin Park – “The Void” – Warner
• Twenty One Pilots – “Contract” – Fuel Records

Best Latin:

• Bad Bunny – “Bay Rain Le Bidouble” – Limas Entertainment
• J Balvin – “Rio” – Capitol
• Karol G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Bichota/Interscope
• Peso Pluma – “Ratrula” – Double P
• Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” – Sony Music Latin
• Shakira – “Soltera” – Sony Music Latin

Best Afrobeat:

• Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” – YBNL/Empire
• Burna Boy feat. Travis Scott – “Tatata” – Atlantic
• Moliy, Silent Addy, Skilliveng & Shenseea – “Shake It To the Max (Fly) (Remix)” – Gamma
• Lema – “Baby (Is That a Crime)” – Jonzing/Interscope
• Tems feat. Asake – “Make It Right” – RCA
• Tyla – “Push 2 Start” – Epic
• Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz – “Part of My Heart” – RCA

Best K-Pop:

• Aespa – “Whiplash” – SM Entertainment
• Jennie – “Like Jennie” – Columbia
• Jimin – “Who” – Bighit
• Jisoo – “Earthquake” – Warner
• Lisa feat. Doja Cat & Raye – “Born Again” – RCA
• Lost Children – “CHK CHK BOOM” – Republic
• Rose – “Toxicity to the End” – Atlantic

Best Country:

• Chris Stapleton – “I Think I’m in Love With You” – Mercury Nashville
• Carrie Underwood & Cody Johnson – “I Love You” – Warner Nashville
• Jelly Roll – “Lying” – Republic
• Lainey Wilson – “4x4xu” – Broken Bow
• Megan Moloney – “Are You Okay?” – Columbia
• Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Mercury

Best Album:

• Bad Bunny – “Debí Tirar Fotos” – Rimas Entertainment
• Kendrick Lamar – “GNX” – Pglang/Interscope
• Lady Gaga – “Myhem” – Interscope
• Morgan Wallen – “I’m a Problem” – Mercury
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Short N’Sweet” – Island
• The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – Republic

Video Forever:

• Burna Boy – “Higher” – Atlantic
• Charli XCX – “Guidelines” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic
• Dokii – “Anxiety” – Capitol
• Eminem feat. Jelly Roll – “Someone Saves Me” – Interscope
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – “Hotter Than Me” – Interscope
• Zach Hood feat. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalk” – Arista

Best Direction:

• Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” – Republic
• Charli XCX – “Guidelines” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – Pglang/Interscope
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope
• Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Music Video:

• Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” – Republic
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Atlantic
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – Interscope
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope
• Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover” – Columbia
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Edit:

• Charli XCX – “Guidelines” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic
• Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Atlantic
• Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – Interscope
• Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
• Tate McRae – “Just Watching (F1® Movie)” – Atlantic