Lady Gaga leads 2025 VMAs with 12 nominations, followed closely by Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Kendrick Lamar head the field for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, with the trio securing the highest number of nominations for this year’s ceremony.
Gaga leads the pack with 12 nods, including artist of the year and best album for Mayhem. The 39-year-old, currently touring the United States, has also earned recognition for Die With A Smile, her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars. The track is nominated for Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, and Video of the Year.
Mars, also 39, has 11 nominations in total, bolstered by the success of Die With A Smile and his own solo projects. Lamar follows with 10 nominations, continuing his run as one of the most critically acclaimed rappers of his generation.
Sabrina Carpenter, whose breakout single Espresso has dominated charts, earned eight nominations, while Ariana Grande also features among the most recognised artists this year.
Two of the most decorated artists in VMA history, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, are in contention for artist of the year. Both have 30 career wins, but Swift holds the record for the most Moonman trophies won by a single artist, as Beyoncé’s total includes collaborations. Neither released an album in the past 12 months, but both mounted blockbuster tours that kept them in the cultural spotlight.
Swift was last year’s dominant winner, taking home seven awards, including the top prizes of artist and video of the year. This year marks the first time since 2021 that neither Swift nor Beyoncé has been among the top nominees.
The 2025 VMAs will also debut two new categories: best country and best pop artist. The move reflects the growing influence of genre-specific fan bases and MTV’s bid to widen the awards’ appeal.
The ceremony is set for 7 September at New York’s UBS Arena. No host has been announced, but the show is expected to feature a mix of live performances from nominees and high-profile collaborations.
Notable categories this year include:
- Artist of the Year – Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.
- Best Album – Mayhem (Lady Gaga), along with albums from other top nominees.
- Song of the Year – Die With A Smile (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars) among other major hits.
- Best Collaboration – Several entries from Mars and Gaga, as well as tracks featuring Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande.
The nominations highlight a year in which collaboration has taken centre stage, with multiple artists scoring nods for joint projects. Gaga and Mars’s work together has been singled out for its chart success and critical acclaim.
The VMAs, known for producing headline-making moments both on and off stage, are expected to deliver another high-energy spectacle. Whether that includes surprise performances, controversial speeches, or unexpected wins remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the MTV Europe Music Awards remain in question, with reports suggesting the event is on pause for 2025.
With less than a month to go, speculation is already building over which stars will walk away with the most trophies. For now, all eyes are on Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, whose nominations put them in pole position — but in a year with strong contenders across genres, nothing is guaranteed.