VMAs 2025 Performers: Sabrina Carpenter, Ricky Martin & Everyone Else Who’s Performing

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Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

Live from the UBS Arena in New York for the second time, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will be a star-studded evening — as expected! Weeks after the nominees were unveiled, MTV has released its first batch of performers, and it includes some of the music industry’s biggest names. From pop icons to rap leaders, we’ve got the first round of performers listed below.

When Are the 2025 Video Music Awards?

The 2025 VMAs are set to take place Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

VMAs 2025 Performers

MTV released the first round of performers three weeks before the VMAs. The performance lineup currently includes the following:

Sabrina Carpenter Ricky Martin Alex Warren Busta Rhymes J Balvin ft. DJ Snake sombr

The second batch of performers has not been unveiled at the time of publication. At the 2024 VMAs, Sabrina delivered a memorable show. While belting out her biggest hits from “Espresso” to “Please Please Please,” Sabrina was accompanied by spacemen and aliens, one of whom she shared a kiss with mid-performance. She was also recognized with the VMA for Song of the Year.

In addition to performing, Ricky is also receiving the Latin Icon Award at this year’s VMAs. Busta Rhymes will also receive the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award.

As for the coveted Video Vanguard Award, this year’s recipient is Mariah Carey.

How to Watch the 2025 VMAs: Can I Stream the Awards Show?

The VMAs will be simulcast on CBS and MTV, and viewers with the Paramount+ Premium plan can watch the awards show live.

Those with the Paramount+ basic plan cannot watch the VMAs live; the show will be available to stream the next day.

Courtesy of MTV

2025 VMAs Nominations: Who Are the Nominees?

Video of the Year

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” –  Island The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records Kendrick Lamar – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – Interscope Records Morgan Wallen – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records Taylor Swift – Republic Records The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records

Song of the Year

Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records Billie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom/Interscope Records Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry” – Interscope Records Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records Lorde – “What Was That” – Republic Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Tate McRae – “Sports Car” – RCA Records The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Best New Artist

Alex Warren – Atlantic Records Ella Langley – SAWGOD/Columbia Records Gigi Perez – Island Lola Young – Island sombr – SMB Music/Warner Records The Marías – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Pop Artist

Ariana Grande – Republic Records Charli xcx – Atlantic Records Justin Bieber – Def Jam Recordings Lorde – Republic Records Miley Cyrus – Columbia Records Sabrina Carpenter – Island Tate McRae – RCA Records

MTV Push Performance of the Year

Aug 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE Sept 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin Records/Republic Records Oct 2024 – Mark Ambor- “Belong Together” – Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music Nov 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard” – Artist Partner Group Inc. Dec 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye” – Warner Records Jan 2025 – KATSEYE – “Touch” – HYBE/Geffen Records Feb 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI” – 300 Entertainment Mar 2025 – Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records Apr 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow” – Republic Records May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” – Sony Italy/Arista Records June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island July 2025 – ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” – Interscope Records

Best Collaboration

Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink” – Mercury Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

Best Pop

Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Record Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile” – Interscope Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Hip-Hop

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records Drake – “NOKIA” – OVO/Santa Anna/Republic Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – CMG/Interscope Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records LL COOL J ft. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux” – Def Jam Recordings Travis Scott – “4X4” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records

Best R&B

Chris Brown – “Residuals” – Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – gamma. PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l” – OVO Sound Summer Walker – “Heart Of A Woman” – LVRN/Interscope Records SZA – “Drive” – Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Best Alternative

Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up” – KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records Lola Young – “Messy” – Island mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” – EST 19XX/Interscope Records sombr – “back to friends” – SMB Music/Warner Records The Marías – “Back To Me” – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Rock

Coldplay – “ALL MY LOVE” – Atlantic Records Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)” – Netflix Music Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” – Reprise Records/Warner Records Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine” – Warner Records twenty one pilots – “The Contract” – Fueled By Ramen

Best Latin

Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” – Rimas Entertainment J Balvin – “Rio” – Capitol Records KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records Peso Pluma – “LA PATRULLA” – Double P Records Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” – Sony Music US Latin Shakira – “Soltera“ – Sony Music US Latin

Best K-Pop

aespa – “Whiplash” – SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group JENNIE – “like JENNIE” – OA Entertainment/Columbia Records Jimin – “Who” – BIGHIT MUSIC JISOO – “earthquake” – Warner Records LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again” – Lloud Co./RCA Records Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom” – JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic ROSÉ – “toxic till the end” – Atlantic Records

Best Afrobeats

Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” – YBNL Nation/EMPIRE Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)” – gamma. Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records Tems ft. Asake – “Get It Right” – RCA Records/Since ’93 Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece Of My Heart” – Starboy/RCA Records

Best Country

Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You” – Mercury Nashville Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

Best Album

Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Rimas Entertainment Kendrick Lamar – GNX – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – Mayhem – Interscope Records Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet – Island The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow – XO/Republic Records

Best Long Form Video

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” – Rimas Entertainment Damiano David – “FUNNY little STORIES” – Sony Italy/Arista Records Mac Miller – “Balloonerism” – Warner Records Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful” – Columbia Records The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records

Video for Good

Burna Boy – “Higher” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Younger And Hotter Than Me” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking” – Arista Records

Best Direction

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Art Direction

Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records Lorde – “Man Of The Year” – Republic Records Miley Cyrus – “End of the World” – Columbia Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Best Cinematography

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover” – Columbia Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Editing

Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)” – Atlantic Records

Best Choreography

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records FKA twigs – “Eusexua” – Atlantic Records Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly” – Epic Records

Best Visual Effects

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie) “ – Atlantic Records The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records