MTV VMAs 2025: How & When To Watch The Wildest Show Of The Year
This year's show is promising bigger performances, wilder collabs, and even more viral moments than last time.
MTV is rolling the VMAs back into New York, and the show looks stacked: Lady Gaga is leading the pack with a mountain of nominations and is performing on the VMAs stage for the first time in five years. LL Cool J has the mic as host. Here is the game plan if you want to watch, plus who is performing and who is handing out trophies.
When and where
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are live from UBS Arena on Long Island, New York, on Sunday, September 7 at 8pm ET. For UK night owls, that is 1am.
How to watch
US: CBS, MTV, and Paramount Plus.
UK: MTV, Paramount Plus, and Pluto TV.
Who is hosting
LL Cool J is running the show this year from UBS Arena. He has VMAs and Grammys on his shelf already and previously co-hosted the 2022 ceremony alongside Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow. This time, it is his gig solo.
Nominations snapshot
Lady Gaga tops the nominations board with 12, including Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Song of the Year. Other heavy hitters in the mix: Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, and Charli XCX.
Performers
Gaga joins a lineup that is very VMAs-core (in a good way). The show is also stacking special honors on the main stage. If you are wondering what the Extended Play Stage is, it is the VMAs secondary stage spotlighting breakout acts and performances that pop in and out during the broadcast.
'There will be magic in the air at the 2025 #VMAs because @LADYGAGA IS PERFORMING! 🪄'
'You won’t want to miss her return, September 7 on @cbstv and @paramountplus!'
(That tease came via a joint Instagram post from the VMAs and CBS.)
- Alex Warren
- Bailey Zimmerman feat. The Kid LAROI (Extended Play Stage)
- Busta Rhymes (performing; receiving the VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award)
- Conan Gray
- Doja Cat
- J Balvin featuring DJ Snake
- Jelly Roll
- KATSEYE (Pre-Show)
- Lady Gaga
- Lola Young (Extended Play Stage)
- Mariah Carey (performing; receiving the MTV Video Vanguard Award)
- Megan Moroney (Extended Play Stage)
- Post Malone
- Tate McRae
- Ricky Martin (performing; receiving the Latin Icon Award)
- Sabrina Carpenter
- sombr (yes, that is how it is listed)
Presenters
Helping LL keep the night moving: Ashlee Simpson Ross, Brittany Snow, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, KPop Demon Hunter's EJAE, REI AMI and Audrey Nuna (HUNTR/X), Ice Spice, Jessica Simpson, Latto, Livvy Dunne, Malin Akerman, Meg Stalter, Nikki Glaser, and Paris Hilton.
Bottom line
Big venue, big nominations, and a Gaga return performance to anchor it. If you are tuning in for the awards themselves, keep an eye on those special honors for Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, and Ricky Martin. And if you are just here for the spectacle, this lineup should deliver more than enough chaos to fill a Sunday night.