Taylor Swift Skipped 2025 VMAs While Nominated for Artist of the Year

Taylor Swift did not attend the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sunday night, despite being nominated for the show’s top prize, Artist of the Year, industry outlets reported. The absence ended weeks of speculation about whether the pop star, newly engaged to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, would appear at the ceremony.

E! News and Us Weekly reported that Swift skipped the red carpet and did not make a public appearance at the ceremony. Prior to the show, outlets had noted that Swift was nominated in only one category this year, a sharp contrast with her 12 nominations in 2024, and suggested that the limited recognition may have influenced her decision. Representatives for Swift did not publicly confirm her plans before the VMAs, and requests for comment were not immediately answered, according to media reports.

Swift is competing for Artist of the Year alongside Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd. A victory would give her a record-breaking total of VMAs, currently tied at 30 with Beyoncé, making the category particularly consequential for Swift’s awards legacy. Last year she dominated the show,...