What award did Foo Fighters receive first at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards?

Foo Fighters first received the Global Icon Award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.

The award recognized the band’s long career and international influence, and Foo Fighters were its first recipients in the U.S. MTV VMA context. The ceremony took place on September 12, 2021, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Billie Eilish presented the honor.

Foo Fighters also performed during the ceremony, playing a medley of “Learn to Fly,” “Shame Shame,” and “Everlong.” The performance and award together highlighted the band’s transition from an alternative-rock project formed by Dave Grohl into one of the most established rock acts of its generation.

The wording can be confusing because MTV has used several career-achievement titles. The Video Vanguard Award is a separate honor, generally associated with influential music-video careers, while the Global Icon Award emphasizes broad, sustained cultural impact. Foo Fighters’ 2021 honor was specifically the Global Icon Award.