The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, heralded as "Music's Most Iconic Night," broadcast live from New York's UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7. The main show aired coast-to-coast at 8:00 p.m., ET/5:00 p.m., PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streamed on Paramount+, marking the first time the VMAs were televised on CBS. A one-hour pre-show, hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney with performances by KATSEYE, preceded the main event, airing live at 7:00 p.m., ET/4:00 p.m., PT across MTV and several other ViacomCBS networks including BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, and VH1.

Hosted by LL COOL J, the star-studded ceremony featured a wide array of performers and presenters. A highlight of the evening was a special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee who passed away on July 22 at age 76. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, and Nuno Bettencourt joined forces to perform a medley of Osbourne's greatest hits. Other announced performers included Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Tate McRae, Alex Warren, Sabrina Carpenter, Conan Gray, Doja Cat, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, and sombr. For the first time, the VMAs Extended Play Stage moved in-show, spotlighting debut VMA nominees Bailey Zimmerman feat. The Kid LAROI, Lola Young, who performed her smash-hit “Messy,” and Megan Moroney, who delivered her track “6 Months Later.”

The awards celebrated several music legends with special honors. Mariah Carey was the recipient of this year’s Video Vanguard Award and performed a career-spanning medley of her hits. Busta Rhymes was honored with the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin received the inaugural Latin Icon Award, both delivering medleys of their own megahits. Presenters for the night included Ashlee Simpson Ross, Brittany Snow, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, the fictional trio from KPop Demon Hunters (EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna, representing HUNTR/X), Ice Spice, Jessica Simpson, Latto, Livvy Dunne, Malin Ackerman, Meg Stalter, Nikki Glaser, and Paris Hilton.

Leading into the night, Lady Gaga secured the most nominations with an impressive 12 nods, followed closely by her