Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Warren, Busta Rhymes, and more announced as performers for 2025 MTV VMAs

The first wave of performers for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards has been revealed, with Sabrina Carpenter, J Balvin, Alex Warren, and others set to take the stage on September 7. The event will be hosted by LL Cool J and broadcast live across MTV, CBS, and Paramount+.

Carpenter, nominated for eight awards this year, returns to the VMAs after making her debut in 2024. She’s up for major categories, including Video of the Year for her song “Manchild,” from her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend. J Balvin is set to perform his single “Zun Zun,” alongside Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez, followed by a performance with DJ Snake for their new collaboration, “Noventa.” Balvin is nominated for Best Latin for his track “Rio.”

Other artists performing include Alex Warren, who has three nominations, and Sombr, who is up for Best Alternative for his hit “Back to Friends.” Both are nominated for Best New Artist, with Warren also contending for Best Pop and Song of the Year.

The 2025 VMAs will also honor Busta Rhymes with the first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, celebrating his long-standing influence in the hip-hop industry. Busta’s association with the VMAs dates back to 1997, and he was most recently honored with the Global Icon Award at the 2024 MTV European Music Awards. Ricky Martin will receive the Latin Icon Award, marking his return to the VMAs 26 years after becoming the first male Latin artist to win Best Pop Video in 1999.

The 2025 MTV VMAs will air live from New York’s UBS Arena, showcasing both iconic performances and new talent.