The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced 17 nominees for its class of 2026, presenting one of its most genre-spanning ballots to date.
This year’s contenders are 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, Pink, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Among the list, 10 of the artists appear on the ballot for the first time. They are Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
The seven returning nominees are The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis and Sade. Five of them were also nominated last year and returned immediately to the ballot. Pink stands out as the only artist nominated in her first year of eligibility. Her debut album, ‘Can’t Take Me Home’, was released in 2000.
Compared with last year’s 14 nominees, the 2026 list is notably larger, reflecting the Hall’s increasingly broad view of rock and popular music. Most of the first-time nominees rose to prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, with Pink representing the early 2000s generation.
Voting will take place over the next two months, with the inductees selected by the Hall’s 1,200 voters set to be announced in April. Additional inductees will also be named under three special committee categories: Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non Performer Award.
