Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Unveils 17 Nominees for Class of 2026
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced an expanded list of 17 nominees for its Class of 2026 induction ceremony. This year's roster features a larger number of names compared to recent years, which typically saw 14 or 15 artists vying for induction.
The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction class will be selected from a pool of 17 diverse nominees, marking an increase from previous years.
The Class of 2026 Nominees
The 17 artists nominated for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction are:
- 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
- P!NK
- Sade
- Shakira
- Luther Vandross
- Wu-Tang Clan
Eligibility and First-Time Nominees
Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. This year's list includes several first-time nominees spanning various debut eras.
Among the artists receiving their first nomination are:
- P!NK, whose debut album, 'Can’t Take Me Home', was released in 2000.
- Lauryn Hill's solo debut, 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill', arrived in 1998.
- Jeff Buckley's album 'Grace' was released in 1994.
- Wu-Tang Clan's debut, 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)', was released in 1993.
- Shakira's debut, 'Magia', was released in 1991.
- Melissa Etheridge's self-titled debut was released in 1988.
- New Edition's debut, 'Candy Girl', was released in 1983.
- Luther Vandross's debut, 'Never Too Much', was released in 1981.
- INXS's self-titled debut was released in 1980.
Phil Collins also receives his first solo nomination, with his solo debut, 'Face Value', released in 1981. He is already an inductee as a member of Genesis. If inducted, Collins would become the 29th artist to achieve multiple inductions into the Hall of Fame.
Returning Nominees
Several artists on this year's ballot have been nominated in previous years, continuing their bid for induction.
Third-time nominees include Mariah Carey, who was previously nominated in 2024 and 2025. Iron Maiden makes their third appearance after nominations in 2021 and 2023. Joy Division/New Order also return for a third time, having been nominated in 2023 and 2025. Oasis is another third-time nominee, with previous nods in 2024 and 2025.
Second-time nominees for the Class of 2026 are The Black Crowes and Billy Idol, both previously nominated in 2025. Sade also returns for a second nomination, following a nod in 2024.
Chart-Topping Success Among Nominees
The list of nominees features artists with significant commercial achievements, particularly on Billboard charts.
Mariah Carey stands out, ranking fifth on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists list, boasting an impressive 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits.
Phil Collins also features prominently, ranking 27th on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists list. As a solo artist, he achieved seven Hot 100 No. 1s, in addition to one with Genesis.
P!NK holds the 51st spot on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists list, with four Hot 100 No. 1s to her name.
The Road to Induction
The final inductees for the Class of 2026 will be determined by an extensive voting process. An international panel of over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals will cast their votes.
The Class of 2026 will be announced in April, with the highly anticipated induction ceremony scheduled for the fall.