You’d think after four decades of moon people and stage crashes, we’d have the MTV Video Vanguard Award all figured out. But honestly? Most people still think it’s just a standard "thanks for being famous" trophy. It’s actually way weirder than that.
The gold-plated moonman isn't just about record sales. It’s about who actually changed the way we look at a screen.
When Mariah Carey stepped onto the UBS Arena stage in September 2025 to accept her Vanguard, she dropped a truth bomb that kind of sums up the whole messy history of this thing. She joked, "What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?!"
It was her first-ever VMA. Imagine that. 19 number-one hits, a 35-year career, and she hadn't touched a moon person until they gave her the big one. That tells you everything you need to know about how MTV plays favorites.
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Why the Video Vanguard Award Winners list is so short
MTV doesn't hand these out every year. They just don't. Since 1984, there have only been about 35 recipients. If nobody feels "vanguard-y" enough, the category just stays dark. We saw that in 2020 and 2021—nothing.
The criteria are basically "did you make people stop scrolling?" (or, back in the day, stop flipping channels).
The 2020s: A New Breed of Icons
The last few years have been a wild ride for the award. You've got the 2025 winner, Mariah Carey, finally getting her flowers. Her medley was a total fever dream of nostalgia, hitting everything from the O.D.B. remix of "Fantasy" to her newer stuff like "Type Dangerous."
Before her, Katy Perry took the stage in 2024. People forget how much she dominated the early 2010s. She literally matched Michael Jackson’s record of five number-one singles from a single album (Teenage Dream). When Orlando Bloom handed her that gold trophy, it felt like a closing chapter on that specific era of high-budget, candy-coated pop cinema.
Then you have Shakira in 2023. She was the first South American artist to take it home. If you watched that 10-minute medley, you know exactly why she won. She didn't just sing; she reminded everyone that she’s been a global powerhouse since most of the current "Best New Artist" nominees were in diapers.
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The Michael Jackson Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the name. It’s officially the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, but that name has been a source of major internal panic at MTV for years.
In 1991, they renamed it after MJ because, let’s be real, "Thriller" basically invented the concept of the music video as a movie. But after the Leaving Neverland documentary dropped in 2019, things got awkward.
- 2019: MTV "quietly" removed his name from the promos when Missy Elliott won.
- The Speeches: Even if MTV tries to hide the name, the artists usually don't. Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj both gave him a shoutout anyway.
- Today: It’s back to being the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, currently sponsored by Toyota. It’s a weird mix of corporate branding and legacy controversy that only the music industry could pull off.
Facts about the winners that sound fake but aren't
Janet Jackson is still the youngest person to ever win it. She was 24. Think about what you were doing at 24. She was already being honored for a "lifetime" of work in 1990.
Then there’s the 1992 win by Guns N' Roses. Axl Rose got on stage and straight-up said, "This has nothing to do with Michael Jackson." Talk about a vibe killer.
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And don't get me started on the directors. In the beginning, they actually honored the people behind the camera. David Bowie shared his 1984 win with director Richard Lester. In 2006, Hype Williams won it. Nowadays, it’s almost strictly for the superstars, which is kinda sad if you’re a cinematography nerd.
The "Double Win" Club
Only a few people are elite enough to win the Vanguard and Video of the Year in the same night.
- Peter Gabriel (1987)
- Justin Timberlake (2013)
Most artists have to wait decades. Nicki Minaj (2022) and LL Cool J (1997) had to bridge the gap for hip-hop, which MTV was notoriously slow to recognize in the early years.
What it takes to win in 2026 and beyond
The game has changed. It's not just about a $1 million budget and a film crew anymore. To be a "Vanguard" now, you have to own the digital space.
You’re looking at artists who treat every TikTok and every 15-second teaser like a cinematic event. If you want to understand the lineage of these winners, you have to look at the "Medley Test." Can you perform for 12 minutes straight and keep the audience from checking their phones?
Mariah did it. Katy did it. Shakira definitely did it.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you're trying to predict who's next or just want to appreciate the art form, do this:
- Watch the medleys, not just the clips. The Vanguard performance is a specific art form. Go back and watch Beyoncé’s 2014 set. It’s basically a masterclass in pacing.
- Look at the directors. If you see names like Joseph Kahn or Dave Meyers popping up in an artist's credits over and over, that artist is probably gunning for a Vanguard.
- Ignore the "Lifetime" label. It’s not a retirement trophy. Rihanna won it at 28. It’s about impact, not age.
The Video Vanguard Award remains the most prestigious—and most debated—honor in music video history. Whether it's the name on the trophy or the person holding it, it always starts a conversation.