The 2025 MTV VMAs just pulled a major power move.
As if the show wasn’t already shaping up to be the event of the year, MTV announced today (August 26) that Conan Gray, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, and Tate McRae are hitting the stage — and honestly, the UBS Arena in New York might not be able to handle all this star power.
According to MTV, our sad-pop prince turned alt-pop powerhouse is finally making his main stage debut. He’ll be serving his new single “Vodka Cranberry” (cheers to that) off his fresh fourth studio album Wishbone. Conan gave us a taste of his VMA magic on the Extended Play stage back in 2022, but now he’s officially graduating to the big leagues.
For anyone doubting Doja Cat, we’re here to say she’s officially back, baby. After hosting in 2021 and shutting down the stage with a medley of “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons” in 2023, Doja is pulling up to debut her brand-new single “Jealous Type.” First televised performance? At the VMAs? Iconic behavior.
Country, hip-hop, rock — Jelly does it all, and now he’s bringing it straight to the VMAs stage. After his cameo with Eminem during last year’s opening, Jelly is making his solo moment count. Not to mention, he’s up for his first-ever Moon Person with noms in Best Alternative, Best Country, and Best Hip-Hop. A flex.
Post Malone – aka the king of genre-bending chaos — is officially back. Posty hasn’t graced the VMAs stage since 2018, and this return is extra sweet, as he’s celebrating 20 career nominations (casual) including Best Collaboration with Blake Shelton for “Pour Me A Drink.” Expect beer cans in the air and maybe a guitar smash (just saying).
The pop girlies are winning, and Tate McRae is proof. She’s hitting the VMAs main stage for the first time ever and doing it with four first-time nominations — including Song of the Year for her smash “Sports car.” Huge moment incoming.
Earlier this month, MTV unveiled this year’s nominees across 19 gender-neutral categories — and to no surprise, Lady Gaga leads the pack with 12 nominations, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Album, and more. This marks the third time Gaga has topped the leaderboard, following 2010 (13 nods) and 2020 (tied with 9). Bruno Mars follows closely with 11, Kendrick Lamar with 10, ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter with 8 each, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with 7 apiece, Billie Eilish with 6, and Charli xcx with 5.
Other top contenders include Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae, while newcomers like Alex Warren, Gigi Perez, Damiano David, Leon Thomas, sombr, The Marías, Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Dasha, Ella Langley, KATSEYE, Lainey Wilson, Mac Miller, Megan Moroney, PARTYNEXTDOOR, ROLE MODEL, Sasha Alex Sloan and Zach Hood are celebrating their first-ever VMA nominations. Oh, and yes — Taylor Swiftand Beyoncé are once again facing off in “Artist of the Year,” keeping their friendly rivalry for most VMAs wins alive.
Fan voting is officially open at vote.mtv.com through September 5 at 6PM ET, with “Best New Artist” voting staying active until show night.
And because no VMAs would be complete without a killer lineup, the first round of performers was also announced: Alex Warren, Busta Rhymes, J Balvin ft. DJ Snake, Ricky Martin, Sabrina Carpenter, and sombr are all set to hit the stage. If that wasn’t enough to send the internet into a tailspin, Mariah Carey is officially receiving the Video Vanguard Award. You already know she’s going to shut it down with a career-spanning medley that will be the moment everyone’s talking about Monday morning.
Hosted by the one and only LL COOL J, the show goes down LIVE coast-to-coast on Sunday, September 7 at 8PM ET/5PM PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. So yes, cancel your plans — the VMAs are calling.
For more coverage from the 2025 MTV VMAs, click here.
