MTV’s Video Music Awards have been the catalyst for some of pop culture’s most iconic performances, from Michael Jackson’s medley in 1995 to Lady Gaga’s bloody opera for “Paparazzi” in 2009. Of course, you can’t ever mention the beloved awards show without acknowledging Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift’s eras-defining moments. The list goes on, and after a legendary lineup at the 2024 VMAs (ahem: Chappell Roan, Katy Perry, and GloRilla, to name a few), we are simply seated for this year’s ceremony.
This year’s show is set to take place on Sunday, September 7, and marks the first time it will air on both MTV and CBS. We’ll see a mix of breakout stars and VMA vets take the stage at New York’s UBS Arena, from Alex Warren and Sombr to Sabrina Carpenter and Ricky Martin. Check out all the artists performing at the 2025 MTV VMAs so you don’t miss a beat.
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Extended Play
Lola Young
Lola Young is making her VMAs debut on the Extended Play stage, where she’ll perform her hit “Messy.” She’s also up for her first-ever Moon Person award in the Best New Artist and Best Alternative categories.
Megan Moroney
Country cutie Megan Moroney is not only up for her first-ever Moon Person thanks to her chart topper, “Am I Okay?,” but is making her debut at the VMAs by performing one of her new tracks, “6 Months Later,” on the Extended Play stage.
Bailey Zimmerman feat. The Kid LAROI
Another country sensation, Bailey Zimmerman, is set to sing his track “Lost” with 5-time VMA nominee, The Kid LAROI. Bailey is nominated for his first-ever Moon Person in the Best Collaboration and fan-voted Song of the Summer categories.
Pre-Show
KATSEYE
The view from the VMAs pre-show? KATSEYE may say it’s pretty gnarly, as the global girl group is set to make their debut performing “Gnarly” and “Gabriela.”
Main Stage
Mariah Carey
This year’s recipient of the Video Vanguard Award is none other than the best-selling female artist of all time and all-around icon, Mariah Carey. Of course, she’s set to perform her biggest hits as the honoree of the coveted golden Moon Person. This will mark her first VMAs appearance in 20 years, since she last performed her megahit, “We Belong Together,” in 2005. It’ll be the ultimate full-circle moment since she presented this year’s host, LL Cool J, with the same award in 1997.
Ricky Martin
Ricky is a multi-hyphenate in every sense, thanks to his Latin Grammy–winning music and coveted acting roles to his humanitarian work over the years. That’s why he’s the first artist to be honored with the VMAs’ Latin Icon Award. It’s been 26 years since his first performance in 1999, when he took home 5 Moon Person awards and made history as the first male Latin artist to win for Best Pop Video.
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes will also be honored with the first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, which celebrates his boundary-breaking cultural impact in hip-hop and beyond. The “Touch It” artist was also a Global Icon honoree at last year’s EMAs. He last performed at the show in 2021, when he closed it out with a rapid-fire medley of his greatest hits.
Lady Gaga
That’s right—18-time VMA winner Lady Gaga is bringing Mayhem to the main stage this year. Her VMAs comeback comes a few days after her track, “The Dead Dance,” drops in tandem with Wednesday season 2’s finale on September 3.
Doja Cat
Doja is a VMAs vet who’s hosted the show and performed three times since 2020. Now, the artist is set to sing her new single, “Jealous Type,” for its first televised performance.
Post Malone
Six-time VMA winner Post Malone made an appearance with Taylor Swift to accept awards for their collab, “Fortnight,” at last year’s show. This time around, he’s hitting the stage for the first time since he performed “Rockstar” with 21 Savage, as well as “Dream On” and “Toys in the Attic” with Aerosmith.
Sabrina Carpenter
Hot off her legendary headlining set at Lollapalooza, Sabrina is returning to the VMAs after the release of her seventh album, Man’s Best Friend. Last year, she hit the main stage for the first time to perform a medley of tracks off Short n’ Sweet. She’s also up for eight awards this year, including Video of the Year for “Manchild.”
Tate McRae
Tate has attended the VMAs in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and this year’s ceremony marks her first performance on the main stage. She also received her first-ever nominations, including Best Pop Artist and Song of the Year for “Sports Car.”
Conan Gray
Conan Gray and his song, “Vodka Cranberry,” are coming to the VMAs stage! He performed at his very first VMAs on the Extended Play stage in 2022.
sombr
Rising star sombr has definitely hit your Spotify algorithm thanks to his three (!!!) simultaneous hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, “undressed,” “back to friends,” and “12 to 12.” This marks his awards show debut, as well as his first-ever VMA noms for Best New Artist and Best Alternative.
Alex Warren
The MTV PUSH artist’s breakout hit, “Ordinary,” has pretty much been everywhere and even earned a stamp of approval from Lana Del Rey at Stagecoach earlier this year. Naturally, the track has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 27 weeks and spent 10 of those weeks at number one.
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, and Nuno Bettencourt
The rockstars are paying tribute to the late Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, with a medley of the global rock icon’s greatest hits.
J Balvin, DJ Snake, Justin Quiles, and Lenny Tavárez
Latin powerhouse J Balvin hasn’t hit the VMAs stage since 2022, but he’s coming back this year thanks to his track with DJ Snake, “Noventa,” and his latest collab with Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez, “Zun Zun.” The 13-time nominee is looking to earn his sixth Moon Person award as he’s nominated for “Rio” in the Best Latin category.
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll is up for his first-ever Moon Person as he’s nominated in four categories this year. He last performed in 2024, when he opened the show alongside Eminem.
