The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for its 2026 induction, which include a diverse mix of artists spanning various genres. Among the 17 performer nominees are Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross, and Shakira. The list also features Melissa Etheridge, Jeff Buckley, Pink, New Edition, Sade, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
Returning to the nominations this year are Billy Idol and Joy Division/New Order, along with the musical brothers The Black Crowes and Oasis. Phil Collins, known for hits like “In the Air Tonight” and “One More Night,” has won eight Grammys, including the 1985 Album of the Year for “No Jacket Required.” Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” made history by winning the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1999, as the first hip-hop album to do so.
Mariah Carey, a third-time nominee, has had an impressive 19 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Sade, also a nominee in 2024, is known for soft-rock hits like “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.” The Wu-Tang Clan made a mark as rap innovators with their influential debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).”
INXS dominated the late-1980s charts with hits such as “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” and “New Sensation.” Melissa Etheridge, a two-time Grammy winner, is recognized for songs like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One.” Iron Maiden contributed to the new wave of British heavy metal with iconic albums like “The Number of the Beast.”
New Edition had hits like “Cool It Now” and “Candy Girl,” while Shakira is praised for blending Latin music with rock and pop. Pink has achieved four No. 1 songs and three No. 1 albums, including “The Truth About Love.”
Ten of the 17 nominees are first-timers on the ballot, including Jeff Buckley, Luther Vandross, and the Wu-Tang Clan. Vandross, who sold over 25 million albums, passed away in 2005, while Buckley, acclaimed for his 1994 debut album “Grace,” died in 1997.
The final inductees for 2026 will be announced in April, along with those entering under special committee categories. To be eligible for induction, artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior. The voting process involves more than 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals.
In the previous year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed inductees such as Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Salt-N-Pepa, The White Stripes, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, Lenny Waronker, Thom Bell, and Warren Zevon.
