Who received the Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 VMAs?

Rihanna received the Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. MTV presented her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, honoring the lasting impact of her music videos and career.

The 2016 ceremony was held on August 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Rihanna performed multiple medleys during the broadcast, spanning major stages of her career, before Drake presented her with the honor. Her performances included songs such as “Work,” “We Found Love” and “Only Girl (In the World).”

The award is one of the VMAs’ highest career distinctions and is named after Michael Jackson, an influential early recipient. It is often shortened in casual coverage to the Video Vanguard Award, but the full name used by MTV in 2016 was the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. This was not a competitive category like Best Female Video or Best New Artist.