The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for its 2026 induction, including Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross, and Shakira. The diverse list covers various genres like rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock, and pop.
Among the 17 performer nominees are Melissa Etheridge, Jeff Buckley, Pink, New Edition, Sade, and the Wu-Tang Clan. Billy Idol and Joy Division/New Order are back in the nominations after missing out last year. The list also features The Black Crowes and Oasis, two sets of musical brothers known for their public feuds and recent reunions.
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 becoming the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for album of the year in 1999.
Mariah Carey, a third-time nominee, has had 19 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Sade, also previously nominated, is recognized for soft-rock hits like “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.” The Wu-Tang Clan, known for their groundbreaking 1993 debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” are hailed as rap innovators.
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 best known for songs like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One.” Iron Maiden played a pivotal role in 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 celebrated 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 Buckley, Collins, Etheridge, Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. Vandross, who sold over 25 million albums and had hits like “Here and Now” and “Any Love,” passed away in 2005. Buckley, acclaimed for his 1994 debut album “Grace,” died in 1997.
John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, emphasized the evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its ongoing impact on youth culture through this diverse list of talented nominees.
The 2026 inductees will be announced in April, along with those entering under special committee categories: musical influence, musical excellence, and the Ahmet Ertegun non-performer award. Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before being eligible for induction. The nominees will be voted on by a panel of over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals.
In the previous year, 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 were all inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.