The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place on Sunday, September 8, at New York’s UBS Arena, with South African singer-songwriter Tyla winning the award for ‘Best Afrobeats’ with her hit song ‘Push 2 Start’.
The victory was notable as Tyla prevailed over a highly competitive field of Nigerian heavyweights to clinch the top Afrobeats honour, although she missed out on a second award, with ‘Push 2 Start’ losing in the ‘Best Choreography’ category.
Other African nominees also left empty-handed; Ayra Starr did not win ‘MTV Push Performance of the Year’, and Burna Boy was unsuccessful in the ‘Video for Good’ category.
Lady Gaga was the biggest winner of the night; among her four wins was artist of the year. Followed closely was Ariana Grande who won video of the year at the 2025 Video Music Awards, which were handed out on Sunday night.
The video for her song “Brighter Days Ahead” won the night’s highest honor. Overall, Grande went home with a total of three awards
Sabrina Carpenter also took home three “Moon Person” trophies, including album of the year with Short n’ Sweet.
Other winners who accepted during the telecast were Rosé, who won song of the year for “APT..,” her collaboration with Bruno Mars; and KATSEYE, who won MTV Push performance of the year for “Touch.” Mars and Gaga also won best collaboration for “Die With a Smile.”
Also during the show, Mariah Carey was presented with the Video Vanguard Award, Busta Rhymes received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, and Ricky Martin accepted the inaugural Latin Icon Award.