Lady Gaga commands 12 VMAs nominations this year — more than any other artist — and she’s bringing that momentum straight to the stage. MTV announced the pop icon will perform at the 2025 Video Music Awards on September 7 at UBS Arena in New York, marking her highly anticipated return to the ceremony where she first shocked the world.
Mayhem Success Fuels VMAs Dominance
The numbers tell the story: Gaga’s Mayhem album topped charts in 23 countries after its March release, while her Bruno Mars duet “Die With a Smile” snagged both Grammy gold and VMAs nominations for Video of the Year and Song of the Year. This isn’t just commercial success — it’s artistic vindication. Critics praised Mayhem as her most cohesive work since The Fame, blending industrial dance with synth-pop in ways that feel both nostalgic and futuristic. The album’s genre-hopping approach mirrors how music consumption works now, jumping from rock to disco to electronic without apology.
Star-Studded Ceremony Embraces Genre Diversity
She’ll share the UBS Arena stage with:
- Busta Rhymes
- J Balvin
- Ricky Martin
- Sabrina Carpenter
This lineup proves the VMAs still understand cultural relevance. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey receives the Video Vanguard Award, creating a fascinating generational bridge. This diversity isn’t tokenism; it’s recognition that today’s music landscape defies easy categorization, much like Gaga’s own career trajectory.
Full Circle Moment for Pop’s Chameleon
Remember 2009? Gaga’s blood-soaked “Paparazzi” performance at the VMAs didn’t just launch her career — it redefined what pop spectacle could be. Sixteen years later, she returns not as the provocative newcomer but as the established artist who proved reinvention isn’t just possible, it’s essential. Her ongoing Mayhem Ball Tour, which runs through December across North America and Europe, demonstrates staying power that transcends gimmicks. This performance showcases an artist who survived every trend shift and emerged stronger.
This September performance promises to showcase where Gaga stands now: confident in her artistry, connected to her roots, and ready to remind everyone why the VMAs stage belongs to those willing to take real risks.
