MTV will honor Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 VMAs on September 27th, airing on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+. The band marks the first rock act to receive the honor since Duran Duran in 2003. Nirvana shares a storied history with the VMAs, notably performing in 1992 where they teased “Rape Me” before launching into “Lithium.” That same night saw a famous backstage confrontation between Kurt Cobain and Axl Rose. Surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic appeared at the 1994 ceremony following Cobain’s death. Whether Grohl or Novoselic will attend remains unclear. Grohl’s band, Foo Fighters, have a Las Vegas concert scheduled the night before but are free on September 27th.