Lady Gaga had little time to celebrate after winning Artist of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.

The pop superstar, visibly emotional as she took the stage, thanked her loyal fans and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, during a brief but heartfelt speech. As she was seen fighting back tears, Gaga expressed gratitude before quickly apologising for not being able to stay longer.

The reason was she had another show waiting. Just 18 miles away from the UBS Arena in Elmont, where the VMAs were held, Gaga was set to perform at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan as part of her Mayhem Ball world tour.

Sunday’s concert marked her second consecutive night at the iconic venue. The tour, which kicked off in Las Vegas on July 16, will run until January 30, 2026, with its final stop in Tokyo.

Gaga’s win was particularly notable as she beat out heavyweights like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who remain tied for the most VMAs of all time.

It was a big night for Gaga one that saw her balance awards glory with the demands of a global tour, proving once again why she remains one of the hardest-working performers in music.