The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled 17 nominees for its 2026 class, with a ballot that stretches from Mariah Carey and Lauryn Hill to Phil Collins, Shakira and Wu‑Tang Clan. Also in the mix are Oasis, Pink, INXS, Iron Maiden, Sade, Luther Vandross, New Edition, Joy Division/New Order, Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Idol and The Black Crowes.
Ten of those acts — including Collins, Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Vandross and Wu‑Tang Clan — are appearing on the ballot for the first time, despite having been eligible in previous years.
Rock Hall rules require that an artist’s first commercial release be at least 25 years old, so everyone on the list debuted in 2001 or earlier. Fan voting will run for roughly the next two months, with the final class to be determined by a combination of fan and industry ballots and announced in April.
@rockhall Introducing Rock Hall's 2026 nominees 🤘 From the dancefloors of Manchester to the streets of Staten Island, this year's nominees cover every corner of the musical map. 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. #RockHall2026
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As well as honorees for categories like Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun non‑performer award. The induction ceremony is scheduled for the fall and will again be staged as a made‑for‑TV event.
This year’s slate stands out for how many different corners of pop and rock it covers, from metal and Britpop to hip‑hop, R&B and Latin crossover. It also continues a recent trend of the Rock Hall widening its definition of “rock and roll” to include global crossover stars and rap groups, which some voters see as overdue recognition of how broad the genre’s influence has become.
You can see the full nominee list and voting details in this rundown of the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot.
