The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its nominees for the Class of 2026 on Wednesday, featuring a diverse slate of 17 artists spanning rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, Latin, post-punk, and heavy metal.
Ten are first-time nominees: Luther Vandross, Phil Collins (solo, having been inducted with Genesis in 2010), Shakira, Lauryn Hill, the late Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, INXS, New Edition, Pink, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Seven returning nominees include the Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Oasis, Sade, and Joy Division/New Order (combined entry).
The inductees will be revealed in April, with the ceremony scheduled for the fall. Broadcast or streaming details will be announced later; the show moved to Disney+ in 2023 after years on HBO.
Eligibility begins 25 years after an artist's first commercial recording. Nominations come from a music industry committee, with voting by over 1,200 musicians, executives, historians, and journalists. A fan vote also contributes.
Notable context includes Vandross's nod following the Grammy-winning Kendrick Lamar and SZA duet “Luther,” which samples his work; Buckley's after a recent documentary; Oasis amid their successful reunion tour; and Wu-Tang Clan after a reported farewell tour.Last year's inductees were Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Outkast, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes, with additional honors for Salt-N-Pepa, Warren Zevon, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, Thom Bell, and Lenny Waronker.