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Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga… the best performances of the 2025 MTV VMAs
Last Sunday, September 7th, 2025, the MTV Video Music Awards 2025 (VMAs) brought millions of Americans in front of their tv screens. Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Doja Cat… The hottest artists of the moment gathered for the night and delivered a string of electrifying performances. Here are the ones caught our attention.
par Violaine Schütz,
et Jordan Bako.
Published on 8 September 2025. Updated on 15 September 2025.
An annual gathering of the biggest names in the music industry, the MTV VMAs 2025 took place overnight from September 7th to 8th. On the stage of the UBS Arena in New York, hosts Nessa Diab and Kevan Kenney followed in the footsteps of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who used to be present the ceremony in 2024.
Over the years, the show has been the stage for bold moments. From the famous kiss between Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003 to Beyoncé’s pregnancy reveal in 2011. What were the most memorable surprises of the 42nd edition of the VMAs? Numéro looks back at the highlights of the event from Sabrina Carpenter to Lady Gaga.
The best performances at the 2025 MTV VMAs
Sabrina Carpenter’s iconic and political performance at the 2025 MTV VMAs
Vocally, choreographically, and visually speaking, Sabrina Carpenter’s performance at the 2025 MTV VMAs was nothing short of spectacular. But it was also profoundly political. The 26-year-old singer performed her new track Tears surrounded by stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race, such as including Denali Fox, Symone, and Lexi Love, alongside dancer Honey Balenciaga.
She first emerged from a manhole cover before breaking into dance in the streets of a queer New York. Drag queens held up signs that read “Support local drag,” “In trans we trust,” and “Protect trans rights.” A powerful show of solidarity with the trans community, whose rights have been challenged in the United States with the Trump administration. Sabrina Carpenter ended her performance in the pouring rain, paying tribute to one of Britney Spears’ most iconic, sexy moments.
Tate McRae’s athletic and sensual performance
At the 2025 MTV VMAs, Tate McRae delivered one of the standout performances of that night. And one of the most spectacular. Surrounded by muscular men in swim briefs, the Canadian singer-songwriter unleashed a series of athletic and ultra-sensual dance moves.
Her medley of the hits Sports Car and Revolving Door featured powerful highlights, from a choreography on black sand to bursts of flames and even a human pyramid. The members of Katseye were left in awe watching this mini show. So were we…
Lady Gaga recreates her gloomy universe at the VMAs
It was perhaps one of the most talked-about performances of 2025. Last May, Lady Gaga appeared on stage at Coachella in a dramatic scarlet gown, hiding beneath its voluminous skirts a massive cage filled with dancers. At the 2025 MTV VMAs, the singer repeated the feat. She opened with the first notes of her single Abracadabra, from her latest album Mayhem (2025).
She followed with the track The Dead Dance, released a few days earlier on September 3rd. First heard on the soundtrack of the Wednesday series – in which the singer Gaga alongside Jenna Ortega – the track recalls the synth-pop aesthetic of the Mother Monster’s early years. At the VMAs 2025, Lady Gaga once again proved her unmatched talent as a performer. She also walked away with the award for Artist of the Year that night…
Doja Cat takes on the 1980s vibe in Jealous Type
After hits like Say So (2019) and Kiss Me More (2021), Doja Cat seemed to have left her pop star image behind. On her latest album Scarlet, the singer embraced a darker artistic direction, far from the bubblegum gloss of her earlier records.
But this year may mark her return to pop. On stage at the 2025 MTV VMAs, she performed her track Jealous Type, the lead single from her forthcoming record Vie. Riding on retro synths, Doja Cat took the audience by storm with a choreography echoing the glory years of Janet Jackson and Prince. She even brought out saxophone legend Kenny G, the 1980s icon who collaborated with Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, and Toni Braxton. A performance that foreshadows a great new album.
Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by Yungblud, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
As a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the charismatic frontman of legendary band Black Sabbath, the 2025 MTV VMAs brought together Yungblud, singer Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, guitarist Joe Perry and Nuno Bettencourt. The setlist included Crazy Train, Changes and Mama, I’m Coming Home. As a result, a raw, dark, untamed rock’n’roll moment – the kind we rarely see on television.
The winners of the 2025 MTV VMAs
Video of the year
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Artist of the year
Lady Gaga
Best Pop Artist
Sabrina Carpenter
Song of the Year
Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT.
Best New Artist
Alex Warren
MTV Push Performance of the Year
Katseye – Touch
Best group
Blackpink
Song of the summer
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching
Best collaboration
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die with a Smile
Best Rock video
Coldplay – All My Love
Best Hip Hop video
Doechii – Anxiety
Best R’n’B video
Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous
Best Afrobeats video
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Best cinematography
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Best Alternative video
Sombr – Back to Friends
Best Latin video
Shakira – Soltera
Best K-pop video
Lisa, Doja Cat & Raye – Born Again
Best country video
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay ?
Video for Good
Charli xcx et Billie Eilish – Guess
Best long-form video
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Best direction
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Best art direction
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Best choreography
Doechii – Anxiety
