Nirvana to receive MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award

The legendary grunge band Nirvana has been selected to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. The honor, which recognizes artists who have made a significant and innovative impact on the music video medium, will be presented during the ceremony in Los Angeles on September 27.

The announcement coincides with the 35th anniversary of the band’s seminal single, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. The band has a long history with the VMAs, having won several awards in the early 1990s for iconic videos such as ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, ‘Come As You Are’, and ‘Heart-Shaped Box’.

While the award is a major recognition of their visual legacy, it has not yet been announced which members of the band will represent them on stage to accept the honor.