Rock band Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, recognising the group’s lasting contribution to music videos and visual culture.
MTV announced the honour on 9 September, exactly 34 years after Nirvana made its first appearance at the VMAs on 9 September, 1992. The band performed “Lithium” at the ceremony, in what became one of the show’s most memorable appearances.
Nirvana won five VMAs during its career, including 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. Since then, 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 which of Nirvana’s surviving members will attend this year’s ceremony or whether the honour will include a tribute performance.
The Video Vanguard Award has previously gone to artists including Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Shakira and Nicki Minaj.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place in Los Angeles on 27 September. The ceremony will air live on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+. A host has yet to be announced.
