The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place on Sunday (September 7), bringing together some of the biggest names in music for a night of performances, awards, and tributes. From high-energy sets to long-overdue honors, check out six of the VMA’s most notable highlights inside.

Doja Cat opened the night with a performance of “Jealous Type.” The set drew inspiration from 1980s aesthetics, featuring neon visuals, checkerboard staging, and a surprise saxophone solo by Kenny G. The performance quickly became one of the evening’s most talked-about moments.

Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, her first at the VMAs, and celebrated with a medley of her most recognizable hits. The performance included “Fantasy,” “Obsessed” and “We Belong Together,” highlighting different eras of her career.