2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees: A Diverse Lineup of Music Legends
The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees have been announced, featuring a diverse range of artists from various genres including rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock, and pop. Nominees include Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross, and Shakira, among others. The list also includes returning nominees like Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, The Black Crowes, and Oasis.
Phil Collins, known for hits like “In the Air Tonight” and “One More Night,” has won eight Grammys, while Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” made history as the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for album of the year. Mariah Carey, with 19 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and Sade, known for soft rock hits like “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo,” are also among the nominees.
INXS, with chart-topping hits like “Need You Tonight” and “Devil Inside,” and Iron Maiden, a pioneer of British heavy metal, are part of the nominee list. New Edition, Shakira, and Pink, with multiple No. 1 songs and albums, are also in the running. Ten of the nominees are first-time contenders, including Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
The 2026 inductees will be announced in April, along with those entering under special committee categories like Musical Influence, Musical Excellence, and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award. The diverse list of nominees reflects the evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its impact on youth culture.