Nirvana to receive Video Vanguard Award at 2026 MTV VMAs

Rock band Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, recognising the band's lasting contribution to music videos and visual culture. MTV announced the honour on September 9.

The announcement came exactly 34 years after Nirvana made its first appearance at the VMAs on September 9, 1992. The band performed “Lithium” at the ceremony, which became one of the most memorable appearances in the show's history.

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Nirvana earned five VMAs during its career, including awards for Best New Artist in a Video and Best Alternative Video in 1992. The band rose to international prominence with its 1991 album “Nevermind”, followed by “In Utero” in 1993.

Frontman Kurt Cobain died in 1994, after which Nirvana's surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear have occasionally reunited for special performances with guest vocalists.

In 2014, Grohl, Novoselic and Smear performed Nirvana songs with Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, St Vincent and Lorde during the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The surviving members also reunited for the FireAid benefit concert in 2025.

It has not yet been confirmed who from Nirvana's surviving members will attend this year's ceremony or whether the honour will be accompanied by a tribute performance.

The Video Vanguard Award has previously been presented to artists including Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Shakira and Nicki Minaj.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place in Los Angeles on September 27. The ceremony will air live on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+. A host has yet to be announced.