Lady Gaga is leading the nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with an impressive 12 nods, marking her third time at the top of the VMA nomination list. Her recognition spans major categories including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best Album, largely propelled by her duet with Bruno Mars, "Die With A Smile." Bruno Mars follows closely with 11 nominations, and Kendrick Lamar secures the third position with 10 nods, primarily for his hit "Not Like Us." The prestigious ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. For the first time, the VMAs will be broadcast live on CBS, in addition to a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+.
This year's VMAs introduce two new categories: Best Country Artist and Best Pop Artist, reflecting the evolving music landscape. Rosé of BLACKPINK has made history with eight nominations, tying with Sabrina Carpenter, who also received eight nods. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, both tied with 30 career VMA wins, are nominated for Artist of the Year, potentially setting a new record for the most VMA wins by a single artist. Fan voting is now open for 19 gender-neutral categories at vote.mtv.com, concluding on September 5 at 6 p.m. ET, with the exception of the Best New Artist category, which will remain open until the live broadcast concludes. An additional "Power Hour" for double votes runs daily from August 7 to September 4.