The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame today announced its nominees for the Class of 2026, a list that includes first-time contenders Lauryn Hill, the Wu-Tang Clan, Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, Luther Vandross, Shakira, P!NK, INXS, New Edition, and Melissa Etheridge.
Returning nominees include The Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, and Sade. Notably, Phil Collins is already an inductee, having been recognized as a member of Genesis in 2010, but this marks his first nomination as a solo artist.
The nominations represent a diverse range of artists and genres, reflecting what John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, described as the “ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture.”
The voting process will involve a panel of over 1,200 artists, music historians, and members of the music industry. Inductees, along with recipients of the Musical Influence Award, Musical Excellence Award, and Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award, will be revealed in April. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place in the fall, though a specific date and location have not yet been determined.
To be eligible for nomination, artists’ first commercial release must have occurred in 2001 or earlier. This year’s ballot includes ten artists—Buckley, Collins, Etheridge, Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan—who are nominated for the first time, despite having been eligible in previous years. Carey, Iron Maiden, and Joy Division/New Order are on the ballot for the third time, while The Black Crowes, Oasis, Sade, and Idol are second-time nominees.
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson previously expressed a dismissive view of the Hall of Fame in a 2018 interview, calling it “an utter and complete load of bollocks” and criticizing its American leadership. It remains to be seen whether the band will accept induction should they be selected.
The 2026 class will follow the 2025 induction of Soundgarden, the White Stripes, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Joe Cocker, and Chubby Checker. Warren Zevon, Lenny Waronker, Carol Kaye, Thom Bell, and Nicky Hopkins were also honored with special awards last year.
