Singer and actress Ariana Grande took home the top prize at the MTV VMAs on Sunday (September 5), claiming the video of the year award for her song "Brighter Days Ahead".

The "Wicked" star took the opportunity to encourage listeners of her music to keep persevering through their journeys with trauma and healing.

"If you're on that journey, please continue onward because I promise there are brighter days ahead", she told the audience.

Host LL Cool J kicked off the ceremony at the UBS Arena in New York with a promise of show-stopping performances from legends such as Ricky Martin and Mariah Carey and a tribute to the late British rocker Ozzy Osbourne.

Grande also bagged the award for best pop with the same song.

Pop singer Lady Gaga was named artist of the year, prevailing over heavyweights Taylor Swift and Beyonce at the fan-voted honours.

Gaga, currently on tour with her album "Mayhem," took the stage in a black ruffled dress with giant sleeves and purple accents. She thanked her fans as she held the VMAs Moon Person trophy.

Gaga's win prevented Beyonce or Swift from emerging as the most-honoured artist in VMA history. The pair remain tied at 30 VMAs each.

Other winners of the evening included Rose and Bruno Mars for their catchy pop hit "APT", and newcomers Katseye with their song "Touch".

Music legend Mariah Carey was honoured with the Vanguard Prize for her long-established role in the industry.

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ELMONT, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 7, 2025) (MTV - Broadcast: Must on-screen credit “Courtesy of MTV/CBS” and the CBS EYE logo may not be obscured. Up to 3 minutes total and no more than 1 minute of any single moment or performance may be used until 0300GMT on September 15, 2025 / Only to be used in reporting on the 2025 MTV VMAs, no archive, no resales.

Digital: Must on-screen credit “Courtesy of MTV/CBS” and the CBS EYE logo may not be obscured. Up to 3 minutes total and no more than 1 minute of any single moment or performance may be used until 0300GMT on September 15, 2025 / Only to be used in reporting on the 2025 MTV VMAs, no archive, no resales. / For Reuters customers only.)

1. STAGE AND AUDIENCE AT MTV VMA AWARDS SHOW

2. VARIOUS OF SHOW HOST LL COOL J ON STAGE, ANNOUNCING WINNER OF VIDEO OF THE YEAR AWARD - "BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD" BY ARIANA GRANDE

3. SINGER ARIANA GRANDE STANDING UP AND EMBRACING GUESTS

4. AUDIENCE MEMBER GESTURING LOVE HEART WITH HANDS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, ARIANA GRANDE, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS):

"This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of trauma, and coming home to our young selves and creating safety in own our lives, which is a lifelong process and a daily exercise. If you're on that journey, please continue onward because I promise there are brighter days ahead."

6. HUNTRIX GROUP MEMBERS ANNOUNCING WINNER OF BEST ALBUM - "SHORT 'N' SWEET" BY SABRINA CARPENTER

7. SINGER SABRINA CARPENTER STANDING AND EMBRACING AUDIENCE MEMBER

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, SABRINA CARPENTER, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS):

"This world, as we know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity, so to get to be part of something that can be so often, more than not, something that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance and make you feel like your world is your (AUDIO CENSORED AT SOURCE), I am so grateful, so grateful to do that. So, thanks everyone here, but most importantly my fans are just... you've been there for me, so thank you."

9. VARIOUS OF MUSICIAN LENNY KRAVITZ ANNOUNCING WINNER OF ARTIST OF THE YEAR - LADY GAGA

10. LADY GAGA STANDING AND EMBRACING AUDIENCE MEMBERS

11. AUDIENCE MEMBERS CHEERING AND DANCING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSICIAN, LADY GAGA, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS OF AUDIENCE AND GAGA ON STAGE):

"I dedicate this award to the audience. You very much deserve a stage to shine on, and I give you all my applause. Thank you Little Monsters, as my fans, for always supporting me and always supporting the monster in me."

13. STAGE

14. TELEVISION PERSONALITY PARIS HILTON ANNOUNCING WINNER OF SONG OF THE YEAR - "APT" BY ROSE AND BRUNO MARS

15. SINGER ROSE STANDING UP

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, ROSE, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS OF ROSE)

"First of all, thank you so much Bruno (Mars), I can't believe this. I'm going to call you after, so I'll say everything. Thank you so much for believing in me, and helping me build this world together. I'm really, really forever grateful to you and our friendship and everything."

17. VARIOUS OF SINGER CIARA ANNOUNCING WINNER OF BEST POP - "BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD" BY ARIANA GRANDE

18. SINGER ARIANA GRANDE STANDING AND EMBRACING AUDIENCE MEMBERS

19. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING / STAGE

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, ARIANA GRANDE, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS):

"I have to start by saying thank you so much to my fans, I'm going to cry. I think I broke this (award). I think I broke it. I have to say thank you first and foremost to my fans, I love you with every fibre of my being, (inaudible), thank you MTV, thank you to my dad who acted in this video for the first time in his life, and he is the best scene partner and dad in the world."

21. AUDIENCE CHEERING

22. STAGE

23. ACTRESSES AND SINGERS ASHLEE SIMPSON-ROSS AND JESSICA SIMPSON ANNOUNCING WINNER OF BEST COLLABORATION - LADY GAGA AND BRUNO MARS FOR "DIE WITH A SMILE"

24. STAGE

25. SINGERS ICE SPICE AND LATTO ANNOUNCING WINNER OF MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - KATSEYE FOR "TOUCH"

26. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATSEYE GROUP MEMBER, LARA RAJ, SAYING:

"Thank you so much, this is all very new to us. This is our first time ever doing this."

27. STAGE

28. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, MARIAH CAREY, SAYING (SOUNDBITE OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAYS OF STAGE AND AUDIENCE):

"Thank you so much, MTV, for giving me the Vanguard award. I can't believe I'm getting my first VMA tonight and I just have one question. What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?"

29. STAGE

30. SINGER AND ACTRESS JESSICA SIMPSON ANNOUNCING LATIN ICON AWARD FOR MUSICIAN RICKY MARTIN

31. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSICIAN, RICKY MARTIN, SAYING:

"(SOUNDBITE BEGINS OVER AUDIENCE CHEERING) I am addicted to your applause, that's why I keep coming back. It's you, not only here in America, but all over the world, thank you so much."