Taylor Swift will not attend the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, breaking her three-year streak of front-row appearances.
The pop superstar is preparing for the release of her highly anticipated album The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop on October 3.
E! News confirmed that Swift, who is nominated for Artist of the Year alongside Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd, will not be present at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 7. Despite her absence, Swift still has the opportunity to make history. She is currently tied with Beyoncé for the most VMAs ever won at 30, and another win would crown her the most decorated artist in the award show’s history.
Swift’s decision to skip the ceremony comes during a busy personal and professional season. Her fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce, will open the football season with the Kansas City Chiefs on September 5 in Brazil. The timing of both events has shifted Swift’s focus away from the awards show.
The 2025 VMAs mark the first time since 2021 that Swift will miss the ceremony. In previous years, she has used the platform for major career moments, including announcing Midnights in 2022 and publicly acknowledging her relationship with Kelce in 2024.
While fans won’t see Swift in person this year, the possibility of another win ensures she remains central to the VMAs conversation as her new album rollout begins.
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