Nirvana Receives “Video Vanguard” Award at the MTV VMA’s

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34 years after their first VMA performance, Nirvana held the spotlight once again at the the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.  During the ceremony, the ’90s grunge pioneers were awarded the “Video Vanguard Award,” a lifetime achievement award that honors the band’s lasting influence on music and music videos.

Public Enemy rapper Chuck D announced the award and began his speech saying, “Nirvana never bent to the will of the mainstream,”