The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday night, September 7, at Long Island’s UBS Arena. LL Cool J hosted the show—a gig he previously shared with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow in 2022. Performers at the arena included Mariah Carey, Doja Cat, and Sabrina Carpenter, while Lady Gaga and Post Malone’s pre-taped performances were part of the broadcast. Below, check out all of the show’s performances.
Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Alex Warren
British songwriter and guitarist Alex Warren made his VMAs debut hot on the heels of releasing his debut album, You’ll Be Alright Kid. The Best New Artist winner did a dramatic performance of “Eternity” and “Ordinary.”
Bailey Zimmerman Featuring the Kid Laroi
Country artist Bailey Zimmerman and the Kid Laroi hit the Extended Play Stage Presented by Doritos® to perform their collaborative single “Lost.”
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes became the first recipient of the brand-new MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award. He did a medley and brought Glorilla onstage for his seventh VMAs appearance.
Conan Gray
Pop singer Conan Gray took the VMAs stage for the first time, to play “Vodka Cranberry,” from his new album, Wishbone. He was introduced by Katseye.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat’s theatrical antics have made her a VMAs fixture. She performed “Been Like This” and “You Right” in 2021, and, in 2023, delivered a medley of the Scarlet singles “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red,” and “Demons.” For the 2025 show, she did a 1980s-inspired performance of “Jealous Type,” the lead single from her forthcoming album, Vie, giving the song its live debut.
J Balvin, DJ Snake, Justin Quiles & Lenny Tavárez
Thirteen-time nominee J Balvin was joined by Juistin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez for the trio’s new song, “Zun Zun,” and then he and DJ Snake played their single “Noventa” live for the first time. The reggaeton superstar has brought his collaborative spirit to past VMAs with assists from Bad Bunny, in 2019, and Ryan Castro, in 2022.
Katseye
The American K-pop-style girl group Katseye were the VMAs pre-show performers.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga showed up to collect her trophy for Artist of the Year, but her performance of “Abracadra” and “The Dead Dance” was pre-taped at a show at Madison Square Garden.
Lola Young
Lola Young broke out last yer with the single “Messy.” As the British singer readies the new album I’m Only F**king Myself, she performed that hit on the Extended Play Stage Presented by Doritos®.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey had not performed at the VMAs since 2005. She returned to perform a career-spanning medley to celebrate her winning the Video Vanguard Award. Back home on Long Island, she played “Sugar Sweet,” “Fantasy,” “Heartbreaker,” “Obsessed,” “It’s Like That,” and “We Belong Together.”
Megan Moroney
Country star Megan Moroney brought “6 Months Later” to the Extended Play Stage Presented by Doritos®.
Post Malone & Jelly Roll
Post Malone had a hell of a time at the 2018 VMAs, performing with both 21 Savage and Aerosmith. He came back in 2025, but only remotely. His and Jelly Roll’s performance of “Loser” was recorded while they were on tour together in Germany.
Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin received the first-ever Latin Icon Award. His medley performance included, of course, “Livin’ la Vida Loca.”
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter delivered a memorable, alien-kissing performance at the 2024 VMAs, and she returned to the stage as one of the marquee acts of 2025. She did “Tears” while surrounded by dancers and drag queens who held up signs with messages of trans solidarity.
Sombr
Sombr had never performed at an awards show, so it was a big deal for the New York singer when he did “Back to Friends.”
Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud & Nuno Bettencourt
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, British vocalist Yungblud, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt came together to pay tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Yungblud sang “Crazy Train” and “Changes,” before the Aerosmith members joined for “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
Tate McRae
Tate McRae gave a pre-taped performance at the 2020 VMAs pre-show, and five years later she’s graduated to the main stage. McRae played “Sports Car,” from So Close to What.
