Nirvana to Receive Video Vanguard Award at 2026 MTV VMAs

Luca Cassese

Writer

August 13, 2026

On Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Nirvana will be presented with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

MTV officially broke the news on its social media on Wednesday, Sept. 9, exactly 34 years to the day after Nirvana made its VMA onstage debut, in a moment that “[shaped] music, culture and MTV forever.” Since then, Nirvana has taken home multiple alternative video awards for songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “In Bloom,” and “Heart-Shaped Box.” The latter two were even nominated for Video of the Year.

This exposure was just the beginning of Nirvana’s grand-scale immersion in popular culture in the mid-to-late ’90s. The success of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” led to their album, Nevermind, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200, positioning it as a pivotal force in inspiring the next era of grunge and alternative rock.

This prestigious honor has been awarded to bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, Beastie Boys, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Among solo artists and groups, Nirvana is the ninth band to receive the award throughout the ceremony’s illustrious history.

The “VMAs” will air Sunday, Sept. 27 (7:30–9:30 p.m. ET/4:30–6:30 p.m. PT) on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium) in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

Edited by: Jade Read