The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees, and the class is as varied and genre-spanning as any in recent memory. Sade, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan and the late Luther Vandross will all be inducted at a ceremony at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on 14 November, with the event available to watch in December on ABC and Disney+.
The announcement was made by Ryan Seacrest and Lionel Richie during a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode of American Idol on Monday.
First-timers and long overdue
For Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan, this represents their first-ever nominations — a fact that has prompted some reflection given the scale of their respective cultural footprints. Vandross, who died in 2005, was one of the defining voices of soul and R&B. Wu-Tang Clan reshaped hip-hop’s architecture in the 1990s and remains one of the most influential collectives in the genre’s history.
Oasis’s induction comes during a period of renewed public attention on the Gallagher brothers, who have been on tour following their much-publicised reunion. Sade, whose influence on British soul and jazz pop has been felt across decades, and Iron Maiden, whose global fanbase has always outpaced their mainstream recognition, both feel like overdue additions.
Beyond the performer category
The broader class includes the Early Influence Award going to Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons — a grouping that acknowledges music’s global reach and the deep roots of hip-hop and soul. Producer Rick Rubin is among those receiving the Musical Excellence Award, a recognition that places the architecture behind some of the most significant albums ever made alongside the artists who performed them.
This year’s nominations also included Pink, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill and INXS, among others. The full ceremony airs in December.
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Featured Image: Instagram | rockhall
