The MTV Video Music Awards will take place at UBS Arena in New York on September 7, where Lady Gaga is set to perform and lead the night as the most nominated artist.
The live broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV, with streaming available through Paramount Plus.
This year, Gaga earned 12 nominations across major categories, a number that puts her ahead of every other artist. She is in the running for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her project Mayhem.
Her music video for “Abracadabra” added to her tally, receiving nominations for Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. In addition to her solo achievements, she and Bruno Mars collected joint nominations for their collaboration “Die with a Smile,” which is recognized in Best Pop, Best Collaboration, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year. Mars follows closely behind her with 11 nominations.
MTV confirmed her long-awaited performance with an announcement on Instagram.
The post read, “There will be magic in the air at the 2025 #VMAs because @LADYGAGA IS PERFORMING!” The message continued, “You won’t want to miss her return, September 7 on @cbstv and @paramountplus! let mayhem commence!!!”
Gaga’s last appearance at the VMAs was in 2020, when she joined Ariana Grande in a virtual performance of “Rain on Me” along with several tracks from her Chromatica album. That year, the duo’s song won Song of the Year and Gaga was named Artist of the Year. Before that, her most recent live VMA stage performance dated back to 2013.
The 2025 ceremony promises an extensive lineup of performances from a diverse group of artists. Scheduled performers include Sabrina Carpenter, Ricky Martin, Sombr, Alex Warren, J Balvin with DJ Snake, and Busta Rhymes. Additional acts such as Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Conan Gray, and Tate McRae will also deliver live sets during the broadcast.
Another centerpiece of the night will be Mariah Carey’s tribute. She is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award and will perform a medley that spans her celebrated career.
With Gaga’s long-awaited performance, her commanding list of nominations, and a star-studded roster of fellow performers, the 2025 MTV VMAs are shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated award shows in recent memory.
