The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are set to take place next month at New York’s UBS Arena, bringing together top global music stars for a night of live performances and celebration. The ceremony will feature fan favorites like Sabrina Carpenter, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhymes, and J Balvin alongside DJ Snake, as well as rising talents such as Alex Warren and Sombr.
Awards will honor the year’s best songs, videos, and cultural impact, with special career achievement prizes. Fans can look forward to exciting performances, unexpected collaborations, and special moments throughout the evening.
With the 2025 MTV VMAs approaching, here’s a complete guide to the upcoming award show.
MTV VMAs 2025 Date and Time
The 2025 MTV VMAs ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Pre-show red carpet coverage will begin earlier in the evening, though the exact timing has not yet been confirmed.
K-Pop Nominations and Achievements
K-pop’s global influence continues to grow, and several acts have secured major nominations this year.
In the Best Group category, multiple K-pop groups will compete with international groups, and it will be exciting to see if a K-pop group will bag the award for the seventh year straight. Previous winners include BTS (2019–2022), BLACKPINK (2023), and SEVENTEEN (2024).
- BLACKPINK
- SEVENTEEN
- Stray Kids
- aespa
- KATSEYE
- All Time Low
- Backstreet Boys
- Coldplay
- Evanescence
- Fuerza Regidafr
- Grupo Frontera
- Jonas Brothers
- Imagine Dragons
- My Chemical Romance
- The Marías
- twenty one pilots
For Song of the Summer, HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI) earned a nomination for Golden, which was featured in the animated film KPop Demon Hunters. Multinational group KATSEYE is nominated for Push Performance of the Year, besides the Best Group category.
BLACKPINK made history by receiving nominations both as a group and individually for all four members in the Best K-Pop category. Jennie, Jisoo, and Lisa are nominated for their new solo songs in the Best K-Pop category.
ROSÉ leads the K-pop soloists with eight nominations, including Video of the Year and Best Collaboration for her track “APT.” with Bruno Mars, setting a new record for the most nominations in a single year by a K-pop act. ROSÉ is nominated in the following categories
- Song of the Year
- Video of the Year
- Best Collaboration
- Best K-pop
- Best Pop
- Best Direction
- Best Art Direction
- Best Visual Effects
Performers and Special Honors
The confirmed performers include
- Mariah Carey is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award and perform a medley celebrating her career highlights.
- Performers will include Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, J Balvin, Post Malone, Tate McRae, and Conan Gray. While K-pop performers have not yet been officially announced, ROSÉ’s multiple nominations hint at potential stage appearances.
- Special awards this year include the Rock the Bells Visionary Award for Busta Rhymes and the Latin Icon Award for Ricky Martin.
Host
LL Cool J will serve as the main host for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, his first time handling the role solo. He has prior VMA experience, having co-hosted alongside Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow in 2022. A longtime VMA presence, LL Cool J earned his first award in 1991 and was honored with the Video Vanguard award in 1997.
Where to Watch
This year, the VMAs 2025 will air on CBS for the first time, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming available via Paramount+ in the United States. Premium Paramount+ members ($12.99/month) can watch live, while Essential members ($7.99/month) can access the broadcast on-demand the next day.
Live TV streaming services such as DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Philo will also carry the show. International viewers can use a VPN to access U.S. streaming platforms.
How to Vote
Fan voting for Best Group runs until September 6 at 11 a.m. ET on MTV’s Instagram Story, while Song of the Summer voting closes on September 7 at 11 a.m. ET. New categories this year include Best Pop Artist and Best Country, although no K-pop acts are nominated in these genres.
Fans can tune in on September 7 to witness the K-pop genre continue its worldwide ascent.
