This content is copyright of CelebMix.com. The countdown to music's boldest night has officially begun. The nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are officially out, setting the stage for one of the most competitive and star-studded editions in recent memory. Leading the charge is Lady Gaga, who scored a staggering 12 nominations, reaffirming her reign as a pop juggernaut. This marks the third time she's received the most nods in a single year - a feat she previously achieved in 2010 and 2020 - bringing her total MTV VMA wins to 18 and inching her closer to breaking the all-time record currently held by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Bruno Mars follows with 11 nominations, including an exceptional two Video of the Year contenders: "Die With a Smile" alongside Gaga and "APT.", a genre-blending collaboration with ROSÉ. That rare double-placement makes him just the fourth artist in MTV VMAs history to score two nominations in the same top-tier category. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar returns with 10 nominations, including for his Grammy-winning track "Not Like Us", which is also in the running for Video of the Year. A win here would make him the sole runner-up to Swift for most wins in that category. Voting for the 2025 @MTV #VMAs is now OPEN! ?? And here are your nominees for Video of the Year, presented by @BurgerKing!? #ArianaGrande: "brighter days ahead"? @billieeilish: "BIRDS OF A FEATHER"? @kendricklamar: "Not Like Us"? @ladygaga & @BrunoMars: "Die With A... pic.twitter.com/NcKQEFymvn- Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 5, 2025 Other multi-category contenders include ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter, each with eight nominations, while Ariana Grande and The Weeknd follow closely with seven each. With nods spanning pop, rap, alternative and global genres, this year's VMAs reflect a dynamic and diverse musical landscape - one that also embraces change. For the first time, the awards introduce two new categories: Best Country and Best Pop Artist, acknowledging the growing crossover between genres and the expanding reach of the MTV VMAs. The ceremony returns to UBS Arena in New York on September 7, airing live on CBS with a simultaneous stream on Paramount+. Fan voting is now open across 19 categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best New Artist. With blockbuster names, rising stars, and a few unexpected twists, the 2025 MTV VMAs promise a night where music, visuals and cultural moments collide. Here are the nominees for the 2025 MTV VMAs: Video of the Year Ariana Grande - "brighter days ahead" Billie Eilish - "Birds of a Feather" Kendrick Lamar - "Not Like Us" Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With a Smile" ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - "APT." Sabrina Carpenter - "Manchild" The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - "Timeless" Artist of the Year Bad Bunny Beyoncé Kendrick Lamar Lady Gaga Morgan Wallen Taylor Swift The Weeknd Song of the Year Alex Warren - "Ordinary" Billie Eilish - "Birds of a Feather" Doechii - "Anxiety" Ed Sheeran - "Sapphire" (feat. Arijit Singh) Gracie Abrams - "I Love You, I'm Sorry" Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With a Smile" Lorde - "What Was That" ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - "APT." Tate McRae - "Sports Car" The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - "Timeless" Best New Artist Alex Warren Ella Langley Gigi Perez Lola Young - Island sombr The Marías Best Collaboration Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs - "Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)" Kendrick Lamar & SZA - "luther" Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With a Smile" Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton - "Pour Me a Drink" ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - "APT." Selena Gomez, benny blanco - "Sunset Blvd" Best Album Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS Kendrick Lamar - GNX Lady Gaga - Mayhem Morgan Wallen - I'm the Problem Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow Best Long Form Video Ariana Grande - "brighter days ahead" Bad Bunny - "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)" Damiano David - "FUNNY little STORIES" Mac Miller - "Balloonerism" Miley Cyrus - "Something Beautiful" The Weeknd - "Hurry Up Tomorrow" Video for Good Burna Boy - "Higher" Charli xcx - "Guess" featuring Billie Eilish Doechii - "Anxiety" Eminem feat. Jelly Roll - "Somebody Save Me" Selena Gomez, benny blanco - "Younger and Hotter Than Me" Zach Hood feat. Sasha Alex Sloan - "Sleepwalking" MTV Push Performance of the Year August 2024 - Shaboozey - "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" September 2024 - Ayra Starr - "Last Heartbreak Song" October 2024 - Mark Ambor - "Belong Together" November 2024 - Lay Bankz - "Graveyard" December 2024 - Dasha - "Bye Bye Bye" January 2025 - KATSEYE - "Touch" February 2025 - Jordan Adetunji - "KEHLANI" March 2025 - Leon Thomas - "YES IT IS" April 2025 - Livingston - "Shadow" May 2025 - Damiano David - "Next Summer" June 2025 - Gigi Perez - "Sailor Song" July 2025 - ROLE MODEL - "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" Best Pop Artist Ariana Grande - Republic Records Charli xcx - Atlantic Records Justin Bieber - Def Jam Recordings Lorde - Republic Records Miley Cyrus - Columbia Records Sab