BREAKING: The nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards have just been announced, and Lady Gaga is dominating with an impressive 12 nominations. Close behind is her collaborator, Bruno Mars, with 11 nods. The competition is heating up, with Kendrick Lamar following with 10 nominations.
This year’s VMAs, airing live on September 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, promises to be a thrilling event as fan voting opens in 19 categories, allowing fans to influence the outcomes.
Gaga’s nominations include two for Video of the Year for her hit “Die With a Smile” featuring Mars, showcasing her continued reign in the industry. This marks the third time Gaga has led the nominations, previously achieving this in 2010 and 2020. With 18 VMAs under her belt, she is closing in on the all-time record held by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who both have 30 wins.
In a notable twist, Swift is not nominated for Video of the Year this year, marking a significant change in the VMAs landscape. Instead, her only eligible entry, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” has placed her in the Artist of the Year category alongside heavy hitters like Gaga and Mars.
Among other high-profile nominees, Ariana Grande’s “brighter days ahead” and Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” are also in the running for Video of the Year. Fans are eager to see if Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which recently won five Grammys, can clinch another VMA trophy.
The VMAs are expanding their categories this year, including an inaugural Best Country award, featuring nominees like Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson. This reflects the show’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and recognition of diverse genres.
Fan engagement is crucial this year, with voting open until September 5 at 6 p.m. ET. Fans can vote through vote.mtv.com and increase their influence by using artist-specific hashtags on Instagram during “Power Hour,” running daily from 1-2 p.m. ET.
The excitement is palpable as the countdown to the 2025 VMAs begins. With fan participation at an all-time high, this year is set to be the most interactive yet, building on the success of last year’s show, which saw a 25% increase in viewership.
Stay tuned for updates as we approach the event, and prepare to see your favorite artists take center stage as the world tunes in to celebrate the best in music!
