How to Watch 2025 MTV Video Music Awards Online Without Cable for Free

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LL Cool J is set to host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, which airs live on Sunday, Sept. 7. The awards ceremony takes place at at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

Keep reading for everything you need to know ahead of music’s big night, such as nominees, performers, the opener and how to livestream the 2025 MTV VMAs online without cable, including ways to watch for free.

At a Glance: How to Watch 2025 MTV Video Music Awards Online

MTV Video Music Awards: Dates, Start Time

The MTV VMAs happen on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on MTV and CBS (for the first time ever). The awards ceremony livestreams on Paramount+ Premium.

Cord-cutters can watch the MTV VMAs on any live TV streaming service that carries MTV and/or CBS, such as DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Philo and others. All internet-based services are accessible on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart TV.

Keep reading to find out how to watch with and without a cable subscription, including options to watch for free.

How to Watch the MTV Video Music Awards Without Cable

The awards ceremony broadcasts on MTV and CBS at the same time, while the MTV VMAs is available on streaming cable services that carry the network. Some live TV streamers offer free trials so you can watch online for free. However, the best way to watch is with a subscription to Paramount+ Premium, which comes with a seven-day free trial.

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Paramount+ Premium

Watch MTV VMAs for free when you sign up for a seven-day trial for Paramount+ Premium, which starts at $12.99 per month. Afterward, you can cancel the streaming service altogether, or you can keep watching. If you have Paramount+ Essentials, then you can stream the MTV VMAs (recorded) the following day.

Right now, the annual subscription to Paramount+ Premium is 50 percent off for a limited time. You can get access for just $59.99 for 12 months of service (about $4.99 per month). But act fast and sign up now, this deal ends on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Aside from the awards ceremony, subscribers can access hundreds of movies and TV series, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, Special Ops: Lioness and much more. Learn more about Paramount+ Essentials and Paramount+ Premium here.

You can watch the MTV VMAs for free with a five-day free trial to DirecTV. All the cable alternative’s packages offer MTV and CBS, while the streamer’s entry-level Entertainment package comes with more than 90 channels, such as ESPN, AMC, Bravo, CNBC, Disney Channel and others. Plans start at $49.99 for the first month ($84.99 per month afterward); get the free trial here.

Watch the MTV VMAs on MTV and CBS, along with more than 240 other news, entertainment and sports channels with a subscription to Fubo, which starts at $54.99 for your first month of service ($84.99 per month afterward with Fubo’s current deals). The online TV streaming service offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can watch the MTV VMAs online for free.

You can watch the MTV VMAs on MTV and CBS with a subscription to Hulu + Live TV, which offers a three-day free trial to eligible new subscribers. The streaming service has access to more than 90 live channels — like BET, CNN, Discovery Channel, Food Network and more — starting at $82.99 per month and comes with Hulu’s entire streaming library, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited and unlimited cloud DVR.

Philo offers a seven-day free trial, which allows you to livestream the 2025 VMAs for free. After the free trial is over, the live TV streaming service goes for $28 per month. It includes more than 70 channels, like MTV, as well as AMC, BET, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, VH1 and others. Additionally, Philo subscribers can stream on up to three devices at the same time, create up to 10 profiles, save unlimited live or future shows for up to one year and get access to more features.

How to Watch the MTV Video Music Awards With Cable

The MTV VMAs air on CBS. You can watch by tuning in through your cable TV provider, on CBS.com or the CBS mobile app with your cable TV account login — including streaming and traditional services such as DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon, Xfinity and others.

Who Is Opening the VMAs?

Lady Gaga is set to open the 2025 MTV VMAs with the first TV show performance from her latest album, Mayhem. Meanwhile, the singer/songwriter earned 12 nominations this year.

Is Taylor Swift Performing at the VMAs?

Taylor Swift only has one nomination (artist of the year) for the 2025 VMAs. While there are rumors swirling online that Swift might perform, this is not confirmed. Her attendance also has not been confirmed, but there is speculation she will be there with fiancé Travis Kelce.

Who Is Hosting the VMAs?

LL Cool J is set to host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. This marks the artist’s second time hosting with the first being in 2022 with co-host Jack Harlow. Megan Thee Stallion hosted in 2024, while Nicki Minaj hosted in 2023.

MTV VMAs 2025: Nominees and Honorees

Lady Gaga leads the nominees at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, with 12 nominations. Bruno Mars has 11; Kendrick Lamar has 10; ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter have eight each; and Ariana Grande and The Weeknd each have seven. Billie Eilish, Charli xcx, Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae all have multiple nominations.

Mariah Carey is the 2025 Video Vanguard Award honoree. This is otherwise known as the “lifetime achievement” award, which Katy Perry received in 2024. Check out the full list of MTV VMA nominees here.

If you’re looking for all the award recipients, The Hollywood Reporter is updating the list of winners, as the awards ceremony airs live in New York.

MTV VMAs 2025: Performers

Confirmed performers at the 2025 VMAs, including Alex Warren, Busta Rhymes (VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award), Conan Gray, Doja Cat, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey (MTV Video Vanguard Award), Post Malone, Tate McRae, Ricky Martin (Latin Icon Award), Sabrina Carpenter and sombr.

The girl group KATSEYE is set to perform at during the pre-show. Plus, Bailey Zimmerman feat. the Kid LAROI, Lola Young and Megan Moroney perform on the Extended Play Stage.