Nirvana’s surviving members came together at Sunday night’s 2026 MTV Video Music Awards to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
At the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Public Enemy’s Chuck D presented the honour to bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl and guitarist Pat Smear.
“Nirvana never bent to the will of the mainstream; they always stayed true to their vision,” he said. “Their sound was loud, beautiful, daringly open. The lyrics were raw and deeply human. Their music videos defined an era. They were completely original and always fearless at a time when the status quo got to the point of being formulaic. Today, their influence can be heard in virtually every generation of artists who follow.”
Among Nirvana’s best known videos are Smells Like Teen Spirit and In Bloom, both released in 1991, and 1993’s Heart-Shaped Box.
After a montage of the band’s videos, Novoselic spoke about frontman Kurt Cobain, who died by suicide in 1994 at age 27.
“Thank you so much to Nirvana's fans around the world and to everyone at MTV. This award brings back so many memories of making those videos,” he began. “We saw the dystopian pep rally with anarchist cheerleaders, our version of an Ed Sullivan's TV appearance, performing in a Wizard of Oz-like field of poppies, and so many more.”
Novoselic called Cobain “one of the greatest artists of all time”.
“Kurt was one of one. None of us could have imagined that our band, our sound or our aesthetic would mean so much to so many people. But ultimately, the music had a life of its own. It charted its own course. Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity or something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it's just OK to come as you are,” the 61-year-old said, alluding to the band’s 1992 single Come as You Are. “Kurt would have loved that legacy. Thank you all so much.”
Grohl, now the frontman of Foo Fighters, stood quietly during the speech, while Smear smoked a cigarette.
The Video Vanguard Award, also known as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, has previously gone to artists including Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and U2.
