The surviving members of Nirvana, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, alongside Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear, accepted the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV VMAs. The ceremony, held last night (Sunday, September 27) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, honoured the band's significant impact on music and culture.
Krist Novoselic reflected on the band's journey, noting that this appearance came over three decades after their 1992 VMA debut. He thanked Nirvana's fans and MTV, stating that the ideas for their iconic music videos stemmed from "the vision of one of the greatest artists of all time, Kurt Cobain."
Novoselic added that Nirvana's music continues to resonate because people seek "authenticity or something real, something uncompromising." He concluded by saying, "Kurt would have loved that legacy."
Separately at the event, Taylor Swift became the most-awarded artist in the ceremony's history, increasing her career VMA tally to 33. She dedicated her latest award to the late Dolly Parton.