MTV Music Awards 2025 Nominations: Who’s Leading the Pack?

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) nominations are finally out, and the list is packed with some of the biggest names in music today. Leading the race is Lady Gaga with a stunning 12 nominations, reminding fans of her powerful influence in pop culture. She is followed closely by Bruno Mars with 11 nominations and Kendrick Lamar with 10.

The annual award show, set to air on September 7 from New York’s UBS Arena, promises tough competition, new categories, and plenty of fan debates. From pop icons to rising newcomers, the nominations show how wide and diverse the music scene has become in 2025.

Lady Gaga Leads While New Categories Make Headlines

Lady Gaga’s strong presence across major categories like Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Song of the Year has set the tone for this year’s VMAs. Her collaboration with Bruno Mars on Die With a Smile also earned multiple nods, making it one of the most talked-about tracks of the season.

Other artists dominating the nominations include:

• Bruno Mars – 11 nominations across pop and R&B categories.

• Kendrick Lamar – 10 nominations including Not Like Us for Video of the Year.

• ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter – 8 nominations each, proving their rising global popularity.

• Ariana Grande and The Weeknd – 7 nominations each.

• Billie Eilish – 6 nominations for hits like Birds of a Feather.

This year, MTV also introduced two brand-new categories: Best Pop Artist and Best Country. The addition reflects the growing demand for genre-focused recognition and offers new opportunities for artists outside traditional VMA categories.

For the first time, the VMAs also honored late rapper Mac Miller, who received a posthumous nomination for his visual album Balloonerism. Rising artist Lola Young also earned her first nomination, marking her entry into the global spotlight.

Controversies, Surprises, and the Race for Video of the Year

Like every year, the VMAs are not free from debate. This time, fans of BTS have expressed frustration after members Jin and J-Hope were left out of the Best K-Pop category despite successful solo releases. In contrast, all four members of BLACKPINK—Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and ROSÉ—received nominations, sparking accusations of favoritism.

The Video of the Year category is one of the most competitive this year, featuring:

• Die With a Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

• Birds of a Feather – Billie Eilish

• Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar

• Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter

• Timeless – The Weeknd & Playboi Carti

Meanwhile, Artist of the Year nominees include Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift, setting up one of the most star-studded races in recent history.

Fans also have until September 5 to vote across 19 categories on MTV’s official site. The winners will be revealed during the live broadcast, which airs on MTV, CBS, and Paramount+.

Conclusion

The 2025 MTV VMAs are shaping up to be one of the most exciting shows in years. With Lady Gaga leading the nominations, new categories being introduced, and fan debates already heating up, the event is guaranteed to deliver memorable performances and headline-making moments.

From rising stars to seasoned icons, this year’s lineup proves that the VMAs remain one of the most important celebrations of music and pop culture. As September 7 approaches, the question remains: Who will walk away with the biggest awards of the night?