The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV to honor the year's best music videos. The ceremony is known for its live performances, surprise moments, and fan-voted format. The 2025 VMAs took place on September 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ with a simulcast on MTV.
Recent Winners (2023-2025)
Taylor Swift dominated the VMAs in 2023 and 2024, winning Video of the Year in both years and extending her record to five wins in that category. The 2025 ceremony saw a more distributed set of winners, with Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Rosé and Bruno Mars each taking top prizes. The 2026 VMAs are scheduled for the Los Angeles area in September 2026.
| Year | Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Video of the Year | Ariana Grande | "Brighter Days Ahead" |
| 2025 | Artist of the Year | Lady Gaga | (artist award) |
| 2025 | Song of the Year | Rosé and Bruno Mars | "APT." |
| 2025 | Best New Artist | Alex Warren | (artist award) |
| 2024 | Video of the Year | Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone | "Fortnight" |
| 2024 | Artist of the Year | Taylor Swift | (artist award) |
| 2024 | Song of the Year | Sabrina Carpenter | "Espresso" |
| 2024 | Best New Artist | Chappell Roan | (artist award) |
| 2023 | Video of the Year | Taylor Swift | "Anti-Hero" |
| 2023 | Artist of the Year | Taylor Swift | (artist award) |
| 2023 | Song of the Year | Taylor Swift | "Anti-Hero" |
| 2023 | Best New Artist | Ice Spice | (artist award) |
At the 2025 ceremony, Lady Gaga opened with a prerecorded performance of "Abracadabra" and "The Dead Dance" from her Madison Square Garden concert, aired during the VMA telecast. She won four awards, including Artist of the Year, from twelve nominations.
Mariah Carey received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 ceremony, her first VMA after being nominated for eight over the course of her career. Ariana Grande presented the award, and Carey performed a career-spanning medley including "Fantasy," "Honey," "Heartbreaker," "Obsessed," and "We Belong Together."
How the VMAs Work
The VMAs divide awards into three tiers:
- Voted Categories: Fans vote online for winners in categories like Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop, Best Rock, Best Hip-Hop, Best R&B, Best Latin, Best K-Pop, and Best Afrobeats. The 2025 ceremony introduced two new voted categories: Best Country (absorbing the former CMT Music Awards Video of the Year) and Best Pop Artist.
- Professional Categories: Industry professionals vote on technical categories including Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.
- Special Awards: MTV selects recipients for the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (a lifetime achievement honor), the Global Icon Award, the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and the Latin Icon Award.
The trophy is a silver Moonman, depicting an astronaut on the Moon. The 2025 ceremony was hosted by LL Cool J and marked the second year the VMAs aired on CBS in addition to MTV and Paramount+.
Real-World Example: The 2025 VMAs
Lady Gaga led all nominees with 12 nods and won four awards, including Artist of the Year. Ariana Grande won Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead" and took home three total trophies. Sabrina Carpenter also won three awards, including Best Pop for "Manchild."
Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year for "APT.," their global hit. Alex Warren won Best New Artist. In the special awards, Mariah Carey received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Busta Rhymes received the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin received the Latin Icon Award.
The 2026 VMAs are scheduled to take place in the Los Angeles area, continuing the ceremony's rotation of host cities.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The VMAs are one of the few major awards shows where fan voting determines most winners. Independent artists with highly engaged fanbases can win against major label acts if their fans mobilize. The Best New Artist category specifically targets emerging talent. Alex Warren's 2025 win for Best New Artist shows that artists who built their audience on social media platforms can compete at the VMAs.
The professional categories reward the creative teams behind music videos. Independent directors, choreographers, and editors can earn industry recognition through these awards. If you are an independent artist, invest in a strong music video and mobilize your fanbase during the voting period. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track the streaming performance that can boost your VMA nomination chances. Check the MTV VMA website for eligibility windows and voting dates.
Iconic VMA Moments
The VMAs have a long history of performances that became cultural reference points. Madonna's 1990 performance of "Vogue" at the VMAs, performed in full 18th-century Marie Antoinette-inspired costume, remains one of the most replayed VMA performances on YouTube with over 100 million views. The performance set the template for the theatrical VMA spectacle that the ceremony became known for.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that supports VMA nominations
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
- When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can coordinate awards campaigns
- American Music Awards - Compare with the other major US fan-voted awards ceremony
