Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 Nominees: Phil Collins, Iron Maiden and 15 Other Acts Up for Induction
If you spent the ’80s and ’90s wearing out cassette tapes and arguing about albums over pizza, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee list is going to stir up some feelings. And probably a few arguments.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its 17 nominees for the Class of 2026 on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The list mixes long-overdue legends with repeat contenders who can’t seem to catch a break — and a handful of names that will reignite the eternal debate over what counts as “rock and roll.”
Phil Collins, Billy Idol Among First-Time nominees
Phil Collins — the man behind some of the most recognizable drum fills and pop-rock anthems of the past five decades — is a first-time nominee. Whether you know him from his solo career or from his years fronting Genesis, the fact that Collins has never appeared on this ballot until now may come as a surprise.
The full list of first-time nominees: Collins, Idol, Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan. That’s ten acts experiencing this particular spotlight for the very first time.
Iron Maiden, Oasis and Joy Division/New Order keep knocking
Then there are the nominees who keep showing up on the list and keep getting passed over. If you’re a fan of any of these artists, you already know the frustration.
Iron Maiden was previously nominated in 2021 and 2023. Two prior nominations, no induction. For a band that has maintained a fanatically loyal global following for over four decades, the repeated omission stings. Will 2026 be the year the Hall finally opens its doors to Bruce Dickinson and company?
Oasis is nominated for the third consecutive year. Three years in a row on the ballot and still on the outside looking in. Whether you think Liam and Noel Gallagher were the saviors of rock or just very loud about it, the Britpop giants left an enormous mark on music culture — exactly the kind of impact the Hall says it evaluates.
Joy Division/New Order was previously nominated in 2023 and 2025. This is a duo of bands, linked by shared members, whose influence on post-punk, electronic music and alternative rock is widely acknowledged by musicians and critics alike. Two prior nominations have come and gone without an induction.
Mariah Carey is also nominated for the third consecutive year. Sade was previously nominated in 2024. The Black Crowes, like Billy Idol, are nominated for the second consecutive year.
Who Actually Decides?
This is where things get a little contentious.
Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording. Nominee ballots will be distributed to a voting panel of over 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
The release states that nominees are evaluated based on their impact on music culture, influence on other musicians and the longevity of their careers.
That’s a panel of over 1,200 people deciding whether your favorite band gets in — and the makeup of that panel has long been a point of debate among music fans. Does a body of artists, historians and music industry professionals truly represent the tastes and passions of the fans who actually bought the records, attended the concerts and kept these artists relevant for decades? The question comes up every single year, and the 2026 class is unlikely to settle it.
The Full List of 2026 Nominees
All 17 performers nominated for induction into the Class of 2026:
- The Black Crowes
- Jeff Buckley
- Mariah Carey
- Phil Collins
- Melissa Etheridge
- Lauryn Hill
- Billy Idol
- INXS
- Iron Maiden
- Joy Division / New Order
- New Edition
- Oasis
- Pink
- Sade
- Shakira
- Luther Vandross
- Wu-Tang Clan
What Happens Next
Inductees will be revealed in April, along with recipients of the Musical Influence Award, Musical Excellence Award and the Ahmet Ertegun Non Performer Award. The 2026 induction ceremony will take place in the fall, though exact dates have not yet been announced.
John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a press release, per People:
“This diverse list of talented nominees recognizes the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture,” he added. “Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is music’s highest honor and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 this Fall.”
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
