2025 MTV VMAs unveil Best New Artist top 3 finalists

2025 MTV VMAs unveil Best New Artist top 3 finalists
MTV/CBS

The show airs on CBS tonight

Alex Warren, Sombr, and The Marías have been named the top three finalists for Best New Artist at tonight’s (Sun, Sept 7th) 2025 MTV VMAs. Voting will continue at vote.mtv.com and via WhatsApp into the Live VIMAs Pre-Show at 7 pm ET.

The show, hosted by LL Cool J, airs live tonight at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT from New York’s UBS Arena on CBS and Paramount+.

The one-hour Pre-Show will be hosted by Nessa + Kevan Kenney with special performers Katseye. That airs at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT on MTV and BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1. Global girl group and first-time nominees Katseye will make a spectacular VMAs debut live on the Pre-Show, performing “Gnarly” and “Gabriela” from their new EP Beautiful Chaos, which landed them their first Billboard 200 Top 5. The international sensations are also nominated for MTV Push Performance of the Year and Best Group.

A powerhouse tribute of Rock & Roll royalty Ozzy Osbourne was announced earlier today (Fri, Sept 5th), with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt coming together for a once-in-a-lifetime performance honoring the legendary “Prince of Darkness” with a medley of his greatest hits.

The VMAs Extended Play Stage, presented by Doritos, moves in-show for the first time, spotlighting a trio of VMAs first-time nominees. Bailey Zimmerman makes his VMAs debut and competes for his first Moonperson, nominated for Best Collaboration and Song of the Summer. He’s joined by multi-platinum chart-topping global superstar and five-time VMA nominee The Kid Karoi, also taking the stage for the first time. British pop-soul singer-songwriter Lola Young will mark her first VMAs with a performance of her chart-topper “Messy” and compete for her first-ever Moon Person, nominated in both Best New Artist and Best Alternative. Megan Moroney will celebrate her first VMAs with a performance of  “6 Months Later” and compete in the inaugural Best Country category for No. 1 hit “Am I Okay?”

Lady Gaga leads the nominations with 12, followed closely by Bruno Mars with 11, Kendrick Lamar with ten, Carpenter with nine, Rosé with eight, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven apiece, McRae and Billie Eilish with six each, Charli XCX with five, Warren, Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Morgan Wallen with four each.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

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