The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will include two new awards and honouring three of the most celebrated artists in music when the annual awards are presented on September 7. Long Island, New York is the site for this year’s musical event.
Rap music icon Busta Rhymes is being presented with the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award for his “boundary-breaking cultural impact and an indomitable musical career”. Rhymes is also scheduled to perform during the gala event.
Latin music star Ricky Martin is being honoured with the Latin Icon Award for his “four-decade career that launched Latin music and culture into the mainstream”.
And the VMA’s have just announced that Mariah Carey will be the recipient of the Video Vanguard Award and will perform a medley of her hits. At 56, she becomes the oldest artist to win the award; and the eighth female artist in a row to earn the award.
Alex Warren, J Balvin, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr are also scheduled to perform during the awards ceremony.
After co-hosting the gala music event in the past, award winning performer and Video Vanguard Award winner LL Cool J is going solo as the award’s show host this year.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars top the list of nominees with double digit nominations. Kendrick Lamar, ROSE, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Charli xcx, Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae have also earned multiple award nominations.
With her 12 nominations, Lady Gaga takes over the lead of VMA nominations; a post Taylor Swift has held for the past two years. This year Swift has earned just one nomination for Artist of the Year.
A fan voted award, the polls are open at mtv.com/vote until September 5 at 6pm edt; however, the New Artist Award remains open until sometime during the show.