The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Sunday night at New York’s UBS Arena saw Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter leading the celebrations, as the event largely highlighted female talent.
Lady Gaga emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, taking home four awards, including the coveted Artist of the Year. She beat out nominees such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, and Kendrick Lamar, all of whom were absent from the show. Gaga dedicated her award to her fiancé Michael Polansky and her fans, affectionately known as the “Little Monsters.”
Grande and Carpenter each walked away with three awards. Grande was honoured with Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead, while Carpenter’s accolades included the inaugural Best Pop Artist award. Carpenter also picked up Album of the Year for Short n’ Sweet and the Visual Effects award for Manchild.
The ceremony was hosted by LL Cool J, who stayed mostly behind the scenes, presenting just seven awards during the broadcast.
Lady Gaga’s Triumph
Gaga entered the VMAs as the most-nominated artist with 12 nods. She now holds 22 “Moon Person” trophies, placing her third on the all-time list, behind only Swift and Beyoncé. She also won Best Direction and Art Direction for Abracadabra, and Best Collaboration for Die With a Smile with Bruno Mars. Gaga’s video for The Dead Dance, directed by Tim Burton, also tied into the new Netflix Addams Family series, Wednesday.
Sabrina Carpenter Shines
Carpenter’s performance of Tears featured drag queens and trans dancers, with signs reading “In Trans We Trust” and “Protect the Dolls.” She described winning Best Pop Artist as a milestone for herself and anyone seeking equal recognition for their hard work.
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Grande’s Inspirational Win
Grande accepted three awards for Brighter Days Ahead, including Best Video and Best Pop Video. She dedicated her accolades to the theme of healing and self-care, emphasizing the importance of working through trauma and finding personal safety. -
Megan Moroney, Mariah Carey, and Genre Highlights
Megan Moroney became the first winner of the Best Country category for Am I Okay? Mariah Carey received a lifetime achievement award and the Video Vanguard honour, also winning her first R&B award for Type Dangerous. Carey reflected on music videos as a fun way to bring drama and creativity into her work.
Performances and Tributes
The night featured performances from Doechii, Tate McRae, J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhymes, Post Malone, and Yungblud alongside Aerosmith members, celebrating Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy. Latin star Shakira won Best Latin for Soltera, Tyla took Best Afrobeats, Coldplay won the Rock category for All My Love, and Sombr earned Best Alternative for Back To Friends.
The ceremony overall was a celebration of creativity, resilience, and artistry, with female performers dominating both the awards and the stage.
