Nirvana reunited at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear appearing together at the Peacock Theater.
The musicians gathered ahead of the ceremony, where Nirvana is due to receive the Video Vanguard Award for the band’s contribution to music and its impact on pop culture.
The honour was announced on September 9, 34 years after Nirvana first performed at the VMAs. That appearance helped establish the band’s lasting influence on music, culture and MTV.
Nirvana was formed in 1987 by Novoselic and the late Kurt Cobain. Grohl joined three years later, while Smear became part of the touring line-up in 1993 and 1994, playing guitar and singing backing vocals.
Smear has also joined Grohl and Novoselic for all of the band’s reunion performances since then.
Nirvana released three studio albums during its career: Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero.
