Nirvana’s surviving members reunite for rare honour at 2026 MTV VMAs
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The living members of Nirvana have accepted the prestigious Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 MTV VMAs, 32 years after frontman Kurt Cobain’s death.
Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear took to the stage to accept the gong in Cobain’s absence – but the singer was very much on their minds as they took the award.
David Grohl, from left, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear of Nirvana accept the video vanguard award during the MTV Video Music Awards. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
“Kurt was one of one,” he said to a chorus of cheers from the crowd, adding that the music he created went on to have a life and legacy of its own.
A life and legacy that continues to this day.
“Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people still have a hunger for authenticity, for something real, for something uncompromising,” Novoselic said.
“Something that tells you it’s just OK to ‘come as you are’. Kurt would have loved that legacy, thank you so much.”
Novoselic thanked Nirvana fans around the world and recalled some of the band’s most iconic moments before Cobain died in 1994.
Meanwhile, touring guitarist Smear lit up a cigarette and smoked it right there on the stage in true anti-establishment Nirvana style.
Grohl, who is just as famous for leading the Foo Fighters as he is for being a former Nirvana drummer, didn’t say anything at all.
Dave Grohl backstage with Nirvana in the ’90s. Getty
The Evermore singer wore all-black and let Novoselic do the talking before the trio walked off the stage with their shiny new award.
Grohl was embroiled in a messy cheating scandal in late 2024 and only recently made a rare public appearance with his wife, so may have wanted to keep the focus on the band rather than generating any more headlines of his own.
Notably absent was Chad Channing, who served as Nirvana’s drummer until 1990, when Grohl stepped into the role.
Established in 1987 by Cobain and Novoselic, Nirvana cycled through a number of drummers in the years before Cobain died by suicide in 1994 and the band split.
Some of the remaining members have reunited a few times in the 32 years since, and Nirvana continues to rack up awards and accolades even now.
This isn’t the first time the former Nirvana bandmates have reunited. Getty Images
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
Now they can add the VMA Video Vanguard Award to their collection.
