"This is the arrival moment": Fans react as Sombr's 'Back to Friends' wins Best Alternative at the 2025 VMAs

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards was a memorable night for Sombr. The singer-songwriter's single, Back to Friends, won Best Alternative. It was his first-ever VMA victory.

Notably, Sombr's response to winning was not rehearsed at all. The newcomer looked confused as he was handed the Moon Person trophy. He also asked if the win was a prank. The singer stated:

"Back to Friends is something I wrote myself at a really low point. I grew up watching the VMAs. This is insane. I have to thank the fans because you voted for this."

A Fan reacted by saying: "Sombr taking best alternative at the vmas with back to friends, underground no more, this is the arrival moment"

Fans' reactions to Sombr winning Best Alternative at the 2025 MTV VMAs

Pop Base took to its official X (formerly Twitter) page to announce that:

"'Back to friends' by sombr wins the #VMAs award for Best Alternative."

Netizens were notably quick to weigh in on the comment section as they shared their reactions to Sombr's VMAs win. Below are some of their reactions:

"Huge win for Sombr 👏 'back to friends' taking Best Alternative at the #VMAs is well deserved!", lauded a fan.

"The recognition at this level is huge for alternative music getting the spotlight it deserves. This win is going to open so many doors for them", penned another.

"Sombr's win for 'back to friends' is a total VMA sham, clearly just riding a hype wave", opined a third.

Others also chimed in:

"Alternative music has been having such a moment lately and this win proves the genre is getting the mainstream respect it's always deserved", stated a netizen.

"Are you kidding me? 'Back to Friends' winning Best Alternative? This is a total slap in the face to actual alternative artists. Sombr is just riding a hype wave", commented another.

"Come ON! 'Back to Friends' winning Best Alternative? What a JOKE The Marías got ROBBED, and Sombr is just riding TikTok hype give me a BREAK! 😡 This VMA snub is proof the awards are a total clown show now", added a third.

2024's Back to Friends topped Billboard's Rock Streaming Songs and Alternative Streaming Songs charts. Sombr's debut LP, I Barely Know Her, climbed to No. 2 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart. His latest single, Undressed, hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.

Complete list of Sombr's upcoming live shows

Sombr is kicking off a global tour, which will run through late 2025 and into 2026. The tour will see him perform across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Below is the full list of announced dates and venues:

U.S. and Canada 2025

Sunday, September 21, 2025, Saint Augustine, FL, at Francis Field (Sing Out Loud Festival 2025)
Monday, September 22, 2025, North Charleston, SC, at Firefly Distillery
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Nashville, TN, at Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Friday, September 26, 2025, Cincinnati, OH, at Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Sunday, September 28, 2025, Detroit, MI, at Masonic Temple Theatre
Monday, September 29, 2025, Milwaukee, WI, at Eagles Ballroom
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, St. Paul, MN, at Palace Theatre
Thursday, October 2, 2025, Chicago, IL, at Radius
Friday, October 3, 2025, Columbus, OH, at Newport Music Hall
Sunday, October 5, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA, at Peterson Events Center
Monday, October 6, 2025, Toronto, ON, at Phoenix Concert Theatre
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Boston, MA, at Leader Bank Pavilion
Thursday, October 9, 2025, New York, NY, at The Rooftop at Pier 17
Friday, October 10, 2025, New York, NY, at The Rooftop at Pier 17
Sunday, October 12, 2025, Philadelphia, PA, at The Met Philadelphia
Monday, October 13, 2025, Washington, DC, at The Anthem
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Atlanta, GA, at Tabernacle
Friday, October 17, 2025, Allen, TX, at Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Saturday, October 18, 2025, Austin, TX, at Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater (Outdoors)
Monday, October 20, 2025, Denver, CO, at Mission Ballroom
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Salt Lake City, UT, at The Complex
Friday, October 24, 2025, Seattle, WA, at WAMU Theater
Saturday, October 25, 2025, Portland, OR, at Theater of the Clouds, Moda Center
Monday, October 27, 2025, San Francisco, CA, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at Shrine Expo Hall
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at Shrine Expo Hall
Friday, October 31, 2025, Phoenix, AZ, at The Van Buren
Saturday, November 1, 2025, Pomona, CA, at Fox Theater
Sunday, November 2, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at The Fonda
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Brooklyn, NY, at Brooklyn Steel
Thursday, November 6, 2025, Brooklyn, NY, at Brooklyn Steel

Australia and New Zealand 2025

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Auckland, New Zealand, at Auckland Town Hall
Thursday, December 4, 2025, Melbourne, VIC, at Festival Hall
Saturday, December 6, 2025, Ballarat, VIC, at Victoria Park (Spilt Milk Ballarat 2025)
Sunday, December 7, 2025, Perth, WA, at Robinson Pavilion, Claremont Showground (Spilt Milk Perth 2025)
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Sydney, NSW, at Hordern Pavilion
Thursday, December 11, 2025, Brisbane, QLD, at Fortitude Music Hall
Saturday, December 13, 2025, Canberra, ACT, at Exhibition Park (Spilt Milk Canberra 2025)
Sunday, December 14, 2025, Gold Coast, QLD, at Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre (Spilt Milk Gold Coast 2025)
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Sydney, NSW, at Hordern Pavilion