Lady Gaga has made VMA history with 12 nominations as Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Rosé, and Sabrina Carpenter follow close behind.
Lady Gaga is once again leading the pack at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, earning a record-breaking 12 nominations—the most of any artist this year and the third time she’s topped the list, setting a new VMA record.
Right behind Gaga is Bruno Mars with 11 nominations, and Kendrick Lamar with 10, making it a stacked year of heavy-hitting competition. Pop powerhouses Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter also made major waves, pulling in eight nominations each, including nods for Best Pop and the coveted Artist of the Year.
They’re joined in the top tier by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd, who each scored seven nominations. Other top contenders include Billie Eilish with six and Charli XCX with five, both appearing in major categories like Video of the Year and Best Collaboration.
A slew of other artists earned four nominations, such as Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae.
This year introduces two brand-new categories—Best Country and Best Pop Artist—broadening the range of artists who’ll walk away with Moon Person trophies.
The Artist of the Year race features an elite mix of talent: Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. The Best New Artist category features fresh faces like Alex Warren, Ella Langley, Gigi Perez, Lola Young, Sombr, and The Marías.
For Best Album, nominees include:
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
The show will air live on Sunday, September 7, from the UBS Arena in New York City, marking a first with CBS simulcasting the VMAs alongside MTV. Fans around the world can also stream the star-studded event on Paramount+.
Voting is officially open now on MTV’s website, where fans can support their favorites across a wide range of categories.
With its expanded lineup and record-breaking achievements, this year’s VMAs are already shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.
See the full list of nominees here:
Video of the Year
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
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
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
Lorde – What Was That
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
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
MTV Push Performance of the Year
(August 2024 – July 2025 performers, each representing a month)
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Mark Ambor – Belong Together
Lay Bankz – Graveyard
Dasha – Bye Bye Bye
Katseye – Touch
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
Leon Thomas – Yes It Is
Livingston – Shadow
Damiano David – Next Summer
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Role Model – Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
Best Collaboration
Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs – Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Post Malone ft. 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
Best Hip‑Hop
Doechii – Anxiety
Drake – Nokia
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – Whatchu Kno About Me
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
LL Cool J ft. Eminem – Murdergram Deux
Travis Scott – 4X4
Best RnB
Chris Brown – Residuals
Leon Thomas and 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
Best K‑Pop
Aespa – Whiplash
Jennie – Like Jennie
Jimin – Who
Jisoo – Earthquake
Lisa ft. Doja Cat and Raye – Born Again
Stray Kids – Chk Chk Boom
Rosé – Toxic Till the End
Best Afrobeats
Asake & Travis Scott – Active
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – TaTaTa
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Remix)
Rema – Baby (Is It a Crime)
Tems ft. Asake – Get It Right
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – Piece of My Heart
Best Country (new category)
Chris Stapleton – Think I’m in Love With You
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You
Jelly Roll – Liar
Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU
Megan Moroney – Am I OK
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
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 ft. Billie Eilish – Guess
Doechii – Anxiety
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – Younger and Hotter Than Me
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – Sleepwalking
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Charli XCX – Guess
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX – Guess
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Lorde – Man of the Year
Miley Cyrus – End of the World
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
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
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching
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
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
