September 2025 is a cultural hotspot, with big award shows and international film festivals happening all over the place. From the biggest music performers to famous storytellers and international film festivals.
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 (September 7)
- What’s Happening: The 42nd MTV VMAs will take place in the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 7, 2025. For the first time, they will air live on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ with LL Cool J as the host (Wikipedia, Marie Claire).
- Star Power: Lady Gaga has the most nominations with 12, followed by Bruno Mars with 11 and Kendrick Lamar with 10 (Wikipedia).
- Honors & Performers:
- The Video Vanguard Award went to Mariah Carey. * The Rock the Bells Visionary Award went to Busta Rhymes. * The Latin Icon Award went to Ricky Martin (Wikipedia).
- Performers Include: Gaga, Doja Cat, Post Malone, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhymes, Sabrina Carpenter—and pre-show beats by KATSEYE (Marie Claire, Pitchfork). Why It Matters: With new categories like Best Country and Best Pop Artist, the VMAs broaden competing horizons—and Gaga’s rule adds a headline-rich SEO magnet (Wikipedia).
2. Creative Arts Emmy Awards & Governors Award (September 6–7)
- Timing: The Creative Arts Emmys precede the main Emmys, recognizing technical and behind-the-scenes excellence (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial, Harper’s BAZAAR).
- Special Recognition: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will receive the 2025 Governors Award, commemorating its decades-long public-media legacy—despite anticipated federal funding cuts (TV Tech).
3. 77th Primetime Emmy Awards (September 14)
- Event Date: The main Emmy ceremony is slated for September 14 in L.A.’s Peacock Theater (broadcast by CBS and Paramount+) (Harper’s BAZAAR, Glamour).
- Leading Nominations: Severance leads the group with 27 nods; other frontrunners include The Penguin, The White Lotus, The Studio, and The Last of Us (Harper’s BAZAAR).
- Predictions from Vanity Fair:
- Severance is poised to snag big honors, including Outstanding Drama Series. * Kathy Bates (Matlock) and Noah Wyle (The Pitt) are in hot acting races.
- In comedy, The Studio, Hacks, Seth Rogen, Jean Smart, and supporting performers Harrison Ford and Hannah Einbinder are noteworthy options.
- Netflix’s Adolescence might sweep limited series categories.
- The Traitors and Stephen Colbert are projected for reality and talk show wins (Vanity Fair).
Highlights
- Festival opens with Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. * Debuts a new competition segment for Asian films and blends its New Currents and Kim Jiseok categories (Wikipedia).
- Jafar Panahi is awarded Asian Filmmaker of the Year, while Chung Ji-young receives the Korean Film Achievement Award (Wikipedia). Why It Matters: BIFF is Asia’s cinematic powerhouse—this year’s extended lineup and prominent awardees indicate a milestone in worldwide film recognition.
5. 34th Buil Film Awards (South Korea) (September 18)
- Date & Venue: Held on September 18 in Busan’s Signiel Grand Ballroom, hosted by Kim Nam-gil and Chun Woo-hee (Wikipedia).
- Top Nominee: Harbin leads with 7 nominations across 16 categories (Wikipedia).
6. 52nd Korea Broadcasting Prizes (September 3)
- Event Recap: Held on September 3 in Seoul and televised on SBS (Wikipedia).
- Big Winners:
- Grand Prize (Daesang): Doubt (SBS) * Best Singer: J-Hope * Best Actor: Lee Joon-hyuk (Love Scout)
- Other accolades: Park Bo-gum (Entertainer), Seo Jun (Lifetime Achievement) (Wikipedia).
7. CCMA Awards (Canada) (September 13)
- Details: The 2025 Canadian Country Music Association Awards took place on September 13 in Kelowna, broadcast on CTV (Wikipedia).
- Host & Nominees: Tom Green hosts. Leading nominees: Brett Kissel, Josh Ross, and Cameron Whitcomb (six nominations apiece) (Wikipedia).
- Performers Include: Cameron Whitcomb, Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, Dallas Smith & Alexandra Kay, Jade Eagleson, Meghan Patrick, and more (Wikipedia).
Final thought
- September 2025 award shows * 2025 MTV VMAs September 7 * Primetime Emmy Awards 2025 nominations & predictions * Busan International Film Festival 30th anniversary * Korean Broadcasting Awards J-Hope winner * Canadian Country Music Association Awards 2025 host * Creative Arts Emmys Governors Award * Harbin leading Buil Film Awards nominations
September 2025 is a cultural crossroads—music legends battle, storytellers vie for Emmy gold, filmmakers convene in Busan, and global voices surge across television and country music stages.
