Nirvana to receive Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at 2026 VMAs

MTV will give Nirvana its Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the Video Music Awards on September 27, according to Rolling Stone. The show will air live on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+. The announcement did not say who from the band will attend to accept the honor.

MTV revealed the news on September 9, the 34th anniversary of the band's first VMAs appearance in 1992. That night Nirvana played "Lithium", with Kurt Cobain teasing the then-unreleased "Rape Me", and the band also won Best New Artist, Stereogum notes.

According to Consequence, Nirvana are the first rock band to receive the Video Vanguard Award since Duran Duran in 2003. Snoop Dogg is set to host the ceremony.