Nirvana is being celebrated at the 2026 VMAs with a posthumous MTV Video Vanguard Award, highlighting the enduring impact of their 1991 album Nevermind, which marked a turning point in 1990s music. Multiple tributes and retrospectives emphasize the album's revolutionary influence, including revelations from band members and collaborators about the unexpected success of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and the band's initial uncertainty about its reception.