The nominations for the MTV VMAs 2025 are out, featuring some of the biggest stars in music taking the center stage. Lady Gaga is leading the pack with the most nominations, followed closely behind by her Die with A Smile collaborator Bruno Mars, and Kendrick Lamar in third place with 10 nods to his name.
Award season is heating up, especially as the MTV VMAs introduce two brand-new categories: Best Pop Artist and Best Country Artist. The nominations also spotlight an eclectic mix of rising talent and genre-defying collaborations across the board. Here’s a look at who’s leading the pack at one of the biggest nights in music.
Lady Gaga – 12 Nominations
Lady Gaga is leading the VMAs 2025 nominations with a total of 12 nods under her name, including for Artist of the Year and Best Album for her eighth studio album, Mayhem. Her 12 nominations include four for her and Bruno Mars’ collaborative hit, Die With A Smile, which is up for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Pop.
Additionally, her second single from Mayhem, Abracadabra, earned six nominations at the MTV VMAs 2025, including for Best Direction. Already one of the most-awarded artists in VMA history, Gaga could climb even higher if she continues to dominate, not just the nominations, but the winners list as well.
Bruno Mars – 11 Nominations
Following Lady Gaga close behind with 11 nominations is the pop icon Bruno Mars. Known for his captivating stage presence, powerful vocals, and musical versatility, the singer earned four nominations for his collaboration hit with Gaga, Die With A Smile.
The 39-year-old singer continued to shine through collaborations, with the remaining seven nominations coming from his collaboration with the BLACKPINK member and the K-Pop star Rosé on Apt.
Kendrick Lamar – 10 Nominations
Riding the wave of success, Kendrick Lamar is expected to follow up strongly to his landmark Grammy wins. The rapper has 10 nominations at the MTV VMAs 2025, including for Artist of the Year and Best Album for GNX.
One of the biggest hits of the rapper-singer, Not Like Us, received seven nominations, including for Video of the Year, Best Hip Hop, and Best Direction. His other nominations include Best Collaboration for Luther, his track with SZA.
Rosé – 8 Nominations
The K-Pop sensation Rosé has made a notable mark at the MTV VMAs 2025 with eight nominations to her name. The singer has received recognition for one of the biggest hits of the year, Apt., which has scored seven nominations. She is also nominated for Best K-Pop for Toxic Till the End, the third single from her debut studio album Rosie.
In addition to Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Pop, Apt. has received nominations for Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects.
Sabrina Carpenter – 8 Nominations
Sabrina Carpenter is keeping pace with Rosé, with 8 nominations at the 2025 MTV VMAs. Her nods include Best Pop Artist and Best Album for her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet.
Meanwhile, her lead single, Manchild, from her upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend, has earned six nominations, including for Video of the Year, Best Pop, and Best Direction.
Ariana Grande – 7 Nominations
Competing alongside the top contenders for Video of the Year is Ariana Grande, with Brighter Days Ahead, the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. The music video has received a total of six nominations, including for Best Pop, Best Long Form Video, and Best Direction. The Wicked star is also in the running for Best Pop Artist at the MTV VMAs 2025.
The Weeknd- 7 Nominations
The Weeknd has also received seven nominations at the MTV VMAs 2025, including for Artist of the Year and Best Album for his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.
The album’s title track also picked up nominations for Best Long Form Video and Best Visual Effects. And his lead single, Timeless, has also scored three nominations, including for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best R&B at the MTV VMAs 2025.
Billie Eilish – 6 Nominations
Known for her distinctive music style, Billie Eilish has scored six nominations at the MTV VMAs 2025, with her song, Birds of a Feather, landing two nominations for Video of the Year and Song of the Year.
The singer has also received four nominations for Charlie XCX’s Guess featuring Billie Eilish. The song is nominated for Video for Good, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Editing.
Charli XCX, Eilish’s collaborator on Guess, follows closely behind with a total of five nominations. Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Doechii, Jelly Roll, Tate McRae, and Miley Cyrus have received four nominations each.
Taylor Swift, who became the most-awarded artist in VMAs history at the 2024 award show, has received a nomination for Artist of the Year, joining fellow nominees Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, and Morgan Wallen.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for September 9, 2025.
