VMAs 2025 Power Hour Concludes as Awards Ceremony Approaches

September 4, 2025 - The MTV Video Music Awards fan voting experienced its final “Power Hour” today, marking the end of a month-long initiative that allowed fans to double their votes for their favorite nominees ahead of this Sunday’s ceremony.

The daily Power Hour voting window, which ran from 1:00 PM to 1:59 PM ET since August 7, concluded on September 4 as the awards show prepares for its live broadcast from UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, September 7 at 8 p.m. ET.

Voting Deadline Approaches

With just one day remaining, fans have until Friday, September 5 at 6 p.m. ET to cast their final votes across 19 categories at vote.mtv.com. The only exception is the Best New Artist category, which will accept votes during the live broadcast on Sunday.

The special Power Hour initiative, presented by Bacardi, allowed fans to submit 20 votes per category instead of the standard 10 during the designated daily window. This voting enhancement was part of MTV’s efforts to maximize fan engagement in what they’re billing as “Music’s Most Iconic Night.”

Lady Gaga Leads Nominations

Lady Gaga dominates the 2025 VMAs with a leading 12 nominations, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best Album for her latest release “Mayhem”. Her collaborator Bruno Mars follows with 11 nominations, primarily for their duet “Die With A Smile,” while Kendrick Lamar rounds out the top three with 10 nominations.

Star-Studded Performance Lineup Confirmed

The ceremony will feature performances from an impressive roster of artists, including Lady Gaga’s first VMAs performance in five years. Other confirmed performers include Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Tate McRae, Conan Gray, and J Balvin featuring DJ Snake.

Special Honors

Three major awards will be presented during the ceremony. Mariah Carey will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and perform a career-spanning medley, marking her first VMAs appearance in 20 years. Busta Rhymes will be honored with the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, while Ricky Martin will receive the first-ever Latin Icon Award.

Extended Coverage

The event will feature comprehensive coverage beginning with a one-hour pre-show at 7 p.m. ET hosted by Nessa and Kevan Kenney on MTV, featuring a performance by global girl group KATSEYE. The VMAs Extended Play Stage, presented by Doritos, will showcase first-time nominees Bailey Zimmerman featuring The Kid LAROI, Lola Young, and Megan Moroney.

Historic Broadcast

For the first time in VMAs history, the ceremony will air simultaneously on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+ in the U.S.. LL Cool J will serve as host, bringing his extensive music industry experience to the role.

The 2025 MTV VMAs promise to deliver memorable performances and significant moments as the music industry’s biggest stars gather to celebrate the year’s best music videos and songs.