Lugano – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026 nominees, unveiling a 17-artist ballot that spans pop, hip-hop, R&B, metal, alternative rock, and global music.

With 10 first-time nominees, including major crossover stars and long-established musical legends, the list reflects the Hall’s continued effort to redefine rock and roll as a measure of cultural impact, innovation, and longevity. 

Last year in Los Angeles, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed a genre-spanning class of inductees, including Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s nominees

Leading the list of first-time nominees is Shakira, whose career has fused Latin rhythms and pop energy into a worldwide phenomenon. 

Alongside her is Lauryn Hill, whose singular solo album and work with the Fugees permanently altered the sound and scope of hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul.

Another standout is songwriter and singer Pink, whose career has been defined by muscular pop-rock songwriting and theatrical live performances that blurred the line between pop star and rock frontwoman. 

Hip-hop’s role in the rock narrative is further solidified with the nomination of Wu-Tang Clan, whose groundbreaking innovation, mythology, and business savvy reshaped both the genre and the music industry at large.

The list also includes INXS, the Australian band whose sleek, dance-rock sound dominated global charts in the ’80s and ’90s.

The 2026 ballot also shines a spotlight on the late Luther Vandross, honoring one of the most influential vocalists in modern R&B history, as well as the late singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, whose singular body of work continues to resonate decades after his death.

Nominations also include rock sensation Melissa Etheridge and the influential R&B group New Edition.

Phil Collins, has also been nominated as a solo nominee, having already previously secured a spot as a member of Genesis.

Returning nominees include British metal giants Iron Maiden, once again representing a genre whose global reach has long outpaced its recognition by the Hall. 

Britpop icons Oasis also reappear on the ballot, alongside artists such as Mariah Carey, Sade, Billy Idol, The Black Crowes and post-punk pioneers Joy Division/New Order, all acts whose legacies have only grown with time.

Voting timeline and induction ceremony details

Final inductees will be announced in April, following a vote by 1,200 voters.

The induction ceremony is set to take place this fall, with broadcast and streaming details to be revealed closer to the date. 

The event, which previously aired on HBO, moved to Disney+ in 2023.

Ticketing information and viewing options are expected to be released after the final list of inductees is revealed in spring 2026.