From surprise performances to shocking moments, few, if any, award shows have consistently topped the MTV Video Music Awards. Who could forget when Lil’ Mama joined Alicia Keys and Jay-Z for their performance of “Empire State of Mind” in 2009? Where were you when Beyoncé revealed she was pregnant during a performance of “Love On Top” in 2011? After celebrating its 40th birthday last year, the MTV Video Music Awards will return with a new energy that celebrates the stars of today and honors the legends of previous eras who still have more left to give. With honoree LL Cool J hosting, Sabrina Carpenter performing and Kendrick Lamar searching for more hardware, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards promise to deliver. Now, lock in with Def Pen and keep up with our complete list of winners throughout the evening.
Honorary Awards
- Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
- Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
- Rock The Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
Video of the Year
- WINNER: “Brighter Days Ahead” by Ariana Grande
- “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
- “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter
- “TIMELESS” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Beyoncé
- Kendrick Lamar
- WINNER: Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
Song of the Year
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
- “Anxiety” by Doechii
- “Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran
- “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “What Was That” by Lorde
- WINNER: “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Sports Car” by Tate McRae
- “TIMELESS” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti
Best New Artist
- WINNER: Alex Warren
- Ella Langley
- Gigi Perez
- Sombr
- Lola Young
- The Marías
Best Pop Artist
- WINNER: Ariana Grande
- Charlie xcx
- Justin Bieber
- Lorde
- Miley Cyrus
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
MTV Push Performance of the Year
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
- “Last Heartbreak Song” by Ayra Starr
- “Belong Together” by Mark Ambor
- “Graveyard” by Lay Bankz
- “Bye, Bye, Bye” by Dasha
- WINNER: “Touch” by KATSEYE
- “Kehlani” by Jordan Adetunji
- “Yes It Is” by Leon Thomas
- “Shadow” by Livingston
- “Next Summer” by Damiano David
- “Sailor Song” by Gigi Perez
- “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” by Role Model
Best Collaboration
- “Backup Plan” by Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs
- “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- WINNER: “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “Pour Me A Drink” by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton
- “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Sunset Blvd” by Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
Best Pop
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “Brighter Days Ahead” by Ariana Grande
- “Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpeneter
Best Hip-Hop
- “Anxiety” by Doechii
- “Nokia” by Drake
- “Somebody Save Me” by Eminem featuring Jelly Roll
- “Whatchu Know About Me” by GloRilla featuring Sexyy Red
- “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
- “Murdergram Deux” by LL Cool J featuring Eminem
- “4×4” by Travis Scott
Best R&B
- “Residuals” by Chris Brown
- “Mutt (Remix)” by Leon Thomas and Freddie Gibbs
- WINNER: “Type Dangerous” by Mariah Carey
- “No Chill” by PARTYNEXTDOOR
- “Heart of a Woman” by Summer Walker
- “Drive” by SZA
- “TIMELESS” by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti
Best Alternative
- “Sailor Song” by Gigi Perez
- “Wake Up” by Imagine Dragons
- “Messy” by Lola Young
- “Lonely Road” by mgk and Jelly Roll
- WINNER: “Back To Friends” by Sombr
- “Back To Me” by The Marías
Best Rock
- “All My Love” by Coldplay
- “Afterlife” by Evanescence
- “One Eyed Bastard” by Green Day
- “Honey” by Lenny Kravitz
- “The Emptiness Machine” by Linkin Park
- “The Contract” by Twenty One Pilots
Best Latin
- “Baile Inolvidable” by Bad Bunny
- “Rio” by J Balvin
- “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” by Karol G
- “La Patrulla” by PEso Pluma
- “Khe?” by Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos
- “Soltera” by Shakira
Best K-Pop
- “Whiplash” by Aespa
- “Like Jennie” by JENNIE
- “Who” by Jimin
- “Earthquake” by Jisoo
- WINNER: “Born Again” by Lisa featuring Doja Cat and RAYE
- “Chk Chk Boom” by Stray Kids
- “Toxic Till’ The End” by ROSÉ
Best Afrobeats
- “Active” by Asake and Travis Scott
- “TaTaTa” by Burna Boy featuring Travis Scott
- “Shake It To The Max” by Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, and Shenseea
- “Baby (Is It a Crime)” by Rema
- “Get It Right” by Tems featuring Asake
- WINNER: “Push 2 Start” by Tyla
- “Piece Of My Heart” by Wizkid featuring Brent Faiyaz
Best Country
- “Think I’m In Love With You” with Chris Stapleton
- “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson with Chris Underwood
- “Liar” by Jelly Roll
- “4x4xU” by Lainey Wilson
- WINNER: “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney
- “Smile” by Morgan Wallen
Best Album
- Debí Tirar Más Fotos by Bad Bunny
- GNX by Kendrick Lamar
- Mayhem by Lady Gafa
- I’m The Problem by Morgan Wallen
- WINNER: Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
- Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd
Best Longform Video
- “Brighter Days Ahead” by Ariana Grande
- “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” by Bad Bunny
- “Funny Little Stories” by Damiano David
- “Bloonerism” by Mac Miller
- “Something Beautiful” by Miley Cyrus
- “Hurry Up Tomorrow” by The Weeknd
Video For Good
- “Higher” by Burna boy
- “Guess” by Charli xcx featuring Billie Eilish
- “Anxiety” by Doechii
- “Somebody Save Me” by Eminem featuring Jelly Roll
- “Younger and Hotter Than Me” by Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
- “Sleepwalking” by Zach Hood featuring Sasha Alex Sloan
Song of the Summer
- “Headphones On” by Addison Rae
- WINNER: “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)” by Tate McRae
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “Mystical Magical” by Benson Boone
- “All the Way” by BigXthaPlug featuring Bailey Zimmerman
- “The Subway” by Chappell Roan
- “Fast” by Demi Lovato
- “Jealous Type” by Doja Cat
- “Golden” by HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI
- “Blue Strips” by Jessie Murph
- “Daisies” by Justin Bieber
- “Shake It to the Max (FLY) (Remix)” by MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea
- “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen featuring Tate McRae
- “Love Me Not” by Ravyn Lenae
- “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter
- “12 to 12” by sombr
Best Group
- aespa
- All Time Low
- Backstreet Boys
- BLACKPINK
- Coldplay
- Evanescence
- Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Frontera
- Imagine Dragons
- Jonas Brothers
- KATSEYE
- My Chemical Romance
- SEVENTEEN
- Stray Kids
- The Marías
- Twenty One Pilots
