Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Rosé, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, and more also top this year’s nominees.

Lady Gaga leads 2025 MTV Video Music Awards nominations — see the full list

Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Rosé, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, and more also top this year's nominees.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is a writer at with over a decade of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘em, Horns!), Lauren wrote about film, television, awards season, music, and more for the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, Us Weekly, Awards Circuit, and others before landing at EW in May 2019.

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Published on August 5, 2025 12:00PM EDT

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Lady Gaga; Bruno Mars; Ariana Grande. Credit:

Monica Schipper/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty for The Recording Academy; Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty

The 2025 Video Music Awards have embraced *Mayhem* in a major way.

For the third time in show history, Lady Gaga is the most-nominated artist at the awards shindig, with a whopping 12 nominations. Gaga looks to add to her 18 VMAs wins with key nominations in Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Album, and more. Gaga previously led nominations in 2010 (with 13 nods) and 2020 (tied with 9 nods). **

Other top contenders include Bruno Mars (with 11 nominations); Kendrick Lamar (10); Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter (8 each); Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (7 each); Billie Eilish (6); Charli XCX (5); and Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae (4 each). **

And not to worry Beyhive and Swifties, the race for most-ever VMAs wins continues between Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who are both nominated for Artist of the Year.**

New to the VMAs this year is the addition of the Best Country and Best Pop Artist categories. Additional show details including performers, special honorees, social categories and more will be announced at a later date.

Fans can vote across 19 gender-neutral categories beginning today by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET, while voting for Best New Artist remains open until the show begins.**

The VMAs return live to New York’s UBS Arena airing coast-to-coast Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. See the full list of nominees below.

Video of the Year, presented by Burger King

Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Billie Eilish - “Birds of a Feather” - Darkroom/Interscope Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With a Smile” - Interscope Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” -  Island**The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Taylor Swift attend the 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' film premiere.

John Shearer/Getty Images

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny - Rimas Entertainment**Beyoncé - Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records**Kendrick Lamar - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - Interscope Records**Morgan Wallen - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records**Taylor Swift - Republic Records**The Weeknd - XO/Republic Records

Song of the Year

Alex Warren - “Ordinary” - Atlantic Records**Billie Eilish - “Birds of a Feather - Darkroom/Interscope Records**Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records**Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records**Gracie Abrams - “I Love You, I'm Sorry” - Interscope Records**Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With a Smile” - Interscope Records**Lorde - “What Was That” - Republic Records**Rosé & 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 - SAWGOD/Columbia Records**Gigi Perez - Island**Lola Young - Island**Sombr - SMB Music/Warner Records**The Marías - Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Pop Artist

Ariana Grande - Republic Records**Charli XCX - Atlantic Records**Justin Bieber - Def Jam Recordings**Lorde - Republic Records**Miley Cyrus - Columbia Records**Sabrina Carpenter - Island**Tate McRae - RCA Records

Lady Gaga looks back on her 2005 'Boiling Points' episode 20 years later: 'So embarrassing!'

Lady Gaga reacts to 'reheating her nachos' on 'Mayhem': 'My nachos are mine — I invented them'

MTV Push Performance of the Year, presented by BACARDÍ Rum

August 2024: Shaboozey - “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” - American Dogwood/EMPIRE**September 2024: Ayra Starr - “Last Heartbreak Song” - Mavin Records/Republic Records**October 2024: Mark Ambor - “Belong Together” - Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music**November 2024: Lay Bankz - “Graveyard” - Artist Partner Group Inc.**December 2024: Dasha - “Bye Bye Bye” - Warner Records**January 2025: Katseye - “Touch” - HYBE/Geffen Records**February 2025: Jordan Adetunji - “Kehlani” - 300 Entertainment**March 2025: Leon Thomas - “Yes It Is” - EZMNY Records/Motown Records**April 2025: Livingston - “Shadow” - Republic Records**May 2025: Damiano David - “Next Summer” - Sony Italy/Arista Records**June 2025: Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song” - Island**July 2025: Role Model - “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” - Interscope Records

Best Collaboration, presented by Under Armour

Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs - “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” - Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville**Kendrick Lamar & SZA - “luther” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With a Smile” - Interscope Records**Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton - “Pour Me a Drink” - Mercury Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records**Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco - “Sunset Blvd” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

Alex Warren - “Ordinary” - Atlantic Records**Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records**Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With a Smile” - Interscope Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island**

Doechii attends the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Phillip Faraone/Getty for iHeartRadio

Best Hip-Hop

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records**Drake - “Nokia” - OVO/Santa Anna/Republic**Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records**GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red - “Whatchu Kno About Me” - CMG/Interscope Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**LL COOL J ft. Eminem - “Murdergram Deux” - Def Jam Recordings**Travis Scott - “4X4” - Cactus Jack/Epic Records**

Chris Brown - “Residuals” - Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records**Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs - “Mutt (Remix)” - EZMNY Records/Motown Records**Mariah Carey - “Type Dangerous” - gamma.**PartyNextDoor - “No Chill” - OVO Sound**Summer Walker - “Heart of a Woman” - LVRN/Interscope Records**SZA - “Drive” - Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records**The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records**

Best Alternative

Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song” - Island**Imagine Dragons - “Wake Up” - KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records**Lola Young - “Messy” - Island**MGK & Jelly Roll - “Lonely Road” - EST 19XX/Interscope Records**Sombr - “Back to Friends” - SMB Music/Warner Records**The Marías - “Back to Me” - Nice Life/Atlantic Records**

Coldplay - “All My Love” - Atlantic Records**Evanescence - “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series *Devil May Cry*)” - Netflix Music**Green Day - “One Eyed Bastard” - Reprise Records/Warner Records**Lenny Kravitz - “Honey” - ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH**Linkin Park - “The Emptiness Machine” - Warner Records**Twenty One Pilots - “The Contract” - Fueled By Ramen**

Bad Bunny - “Baile Inolvidable” - Rimas Entertainment**J Balvin - “Rio” - Capitol Records**Karol G - “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” - Bichota Records/Interscope Records**Peso Pluma - “La Patrulla” - Double P Records**Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos - “Khé?” - Sony Music US Latin**Shakira - “Soltera“ - Sony Music US Latin**

Aespa - “Whiplash” - SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group**Jennie - “Like Jennie” - OA Entertainment/Columbia Records**Jimin - “Who” - BIGHIT MUSIC**Jisoo - “Earthquake” - Warner Records**Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye - “Born Again” - Lloud Co./RCA Records**Stray Kids - “Chk Chk Boom” - JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic**Rosé - “Toxic Till the End” - Atlantic Records**

Best Afrobeats

Asake & Travis Scott - “Active” - YBNL Nation/EMPIRE**Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott - “TaTaTa” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records**Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea - “Shake It to the Max (FLY) (Remix)” - gamma.**Rema - “Baby (Is It a Crime)” - Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records**Tems ft. Asake - “Get It Right” - RCA Records/Since '93**Tyla - “Push 2 Start” - FAX Records/Epic Records**Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz - “Piece of My Heart” - Starboy/RCA Records**

Best Country

Chris Stapleton - “Think I'm in Love With You” - Mercury Nashville**Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood - “I’m Gonna Love You” - CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville**Jelly Roll - “Liar” - BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records**Lainey Wilson - “4x4xU” - Broken Bow Records**Megan Moroney - “Am I Okay?” - Columbia Records**Morgan Wallen - “Smile” - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records**

Bad Bunny - *DebÍ Tirar Más Fotos* - Rimas Entertainment**Kendrick Lamar - *GNX *- pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - *Mayhem* - Interscope Records**Morgan Wallen - *I'm the Problem* - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records**Sabrina Carpenter - *Short n' Sweet* - Island**The Weeknd - *Hurry Up Tomorrow* - XO/Republic Records**

Miley Cyrus attends the 'Something Beautiful' premiere during the 2025 Tribeca Festival.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty for Tribeca Festival

Best Long Form Video

Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Bad Bunny - “DebÍ Tirar Más Fotos (Short Film)” - Rimas Entertainment**Damiano David - “Funny Little Stories” - Sony Italy/Arista Records**Mac Miller - “Balloonerism” - Warner Records**Miley Cyrus - “Something Beautiful” - Columbia Records**The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records**

Video for Good

Burna Boy - “Higher” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records**Charli XCX - “Guess ft. Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records**Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records**Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records**Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco - “Younger and Hotter Than Me” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records**Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan - “Sleepwalking” - Arista Records**

Charli XCX arrives at the Magnum Crack Into Pleasure party on May 15, 2025.

Victor Boyko/Getty for Magnum

Best Direction

Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Charli XCX - “Guess ft. Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island**

Best Art Direction

Charli XCX - “Guess ft. Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Lorde - “Man of the Year” - Republic Records**Miley Cyrus - “End of the World” - Columbia Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records******

Best Cinematography

Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Miley Cyrus - “Easy Lover” - Columbia Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island**

Ed Sheeran attends the 2025 TIME 100 Gala.

Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Best Editing

Charli XCX - “Guess ft. Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records**Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island**Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (From *F1 the Movie*)” - Atlantic Records**

Best Choreography

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records**FKA twigs - “Eusexua” - Atlantic Records**Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Tyla - “Push 2 Start” - FAX Records/Epic Records**Zara Larsson - “Pretty Ugly” - Epic Records**

Best Visual Effects

Ariana Grande - “Brighter Days Ahead” - Republic Records**Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records**Rosé & Bruno Mars - “Apt.” - Atlantic Records**Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island**Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (From *F1 the Movie*)“ - Atlantic Records**The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records

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- MTV Video Music Awards

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Source: “AOL MTV”