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It’s one of the greatest honors in the world of music, transcending generations and styles. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has unveiled the new inductees who deserve the honor of joining the historic archive of world music. Names and surnames that have become legends: deceased or still alive, they continue to make a decisive contribution to music.
Where the announcement was made
The announcement of the selected artists was made live on ABC during the talent show American Idol, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, with judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. The former Commodores icon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 thanks to the success of the song “Easy”. He was also inducted that same year, along with Duran Duran and Eurythmics.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026: criteria and ceremony
Artist nominations are almost always announced in March, with the finalists announced in April. The official ceremony and induction ceremony take place in the fall. This year, the major music event will be held in Los Angeles on November 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced a change from previous years: the induction ceremony will not be held at its historic Cleveland venue. It has been announced that it will return in 2027.
The artists were chosen based on their genres and longevity. The selection criteria were based on what they have done for music, how they have brought it to the world, how they have connected different generations, and their cultural impact. Not just rock, over the years, there’s been a clear trend in the inclusion of artists. There’s been openness, inclusion, and attention to cultural diversity: rap, R&B, and hip-hop.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2026: here are the new inductees
Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Sade, Oasis, Joy Division/New Order, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan: these are the eight great names in music honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026. They represent the “performers” category, each with their own story and artistic signature. Each of them is a musical icon who has defined different eras, uniting generations through their music and continuing to do so today.
Phil Collins forever young
Phil Collins has a legendary legacy. An eclectic artist, he was part of the band Genesis, with whom he brought audiences huge hits. He has also left traces of his artistic life in his solo career. Some of his vibrant songs were the soundtrack of the 1980s and remain legendary to this day. The British artist holds a record he shares with two other icons of British music: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. They are the only two to have sold over 100 million records.
Billy Idol: the rebel
Among the new members is another artist of Collins’ generation: the provocateur Billy Idol; his rebellious rock defined an era. A naturalized British-American, he has sold over 40 million copies. His Rebel Yell is probably his signature song. He also performed it during a live broadcast of American Idol, a punk rock duet with Carrie Underwood that went viral on social media.
Oasis: peace is made. What happened in 2024?
The story with Oasis hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth telling. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have been at each other’s throats for years. A difficult back-and-forth, with harsh words thrown at them. In 2024, the tip of the poisonous iceberg came to light. Oasis were nominated for the first time. Liam Gallagher had made his opinion clear in a post on X: “Fuck the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it’s full of idiots.”
But that’s not all, Liam also wrote: “I don’t need an award for assholes.” Harsh words, he confirmed in an interview with the Sunday Times in 2024. Things didn’t go any better in 2025 when Liam Gallagher responded on social media to a fan about Oasis’ possible nomination to the 2025 RNR Hall: “It’s for assholes.”
It went better on the third attempt. Oasis were elected new inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026, and this time, Liam Gallagher took a different approach. The recognition comes after the two brothers made peace and started the band’s 2025 world tour. The Gallagher brothers are back together, much to the delight of their fans.
Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order
Among the new members of the RNR Hall of Fame 2026 are also the giants of heavy metal. Iron Maiden deserves a place among the greats of world music. Like Collins and Idol, they too have made history with their songs, which are still performed on tour today. This recognition comes on the occasion of Metallica’s 50th anniversary, which they celebrated with a tour. As they explain on X, the relationship with their fans always comes before any award or celebration.
Riding the wave of the most powerful rock from metal to post-punk, new members included Joy Division and New Order. Their music was at the center of a tragedy that struck Joy Division in the 1980s with the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis. The group decided it was worth trying to overcome that dramatic period by doing what they had always done. Thus, New Order was born, and their music lives on.
Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan
Rounding out the performer category are three other great artists. Each one, in their own genre, has contributed to writing immortal songs, gifting fans with legendary tunes. Sade is the refined voice of jazz. Blues and R&B blood flows through her strings. She is part of the great school of British artists. Thanks to her father’s influence, a Nigerian citizen, she blended her genre with African sounds. She, too, was an absolute icon in the 1980s, having sold over 23 million records.
Luther Vandross, with approximately 40 million records sold, needs no introduction. You have to listen to his delicate voice and his songs to understand the artistic legacy of one of the greatest exponents of rhythm and blues. The sound of that velvety voice has become a trademark of the artist nicknamed “ìThe Velvet Voice.
Finally, the hip hop of Wu-Tang Clan is well-known in the New York area. Their hardcore style has taken the United States by storm and has left a mark on American music since the 1990s. A rap collective rooted in their culture: dark atmospheres, a unique attitude. They’ll also be performing in Bologna, Italy, in 2026.
Celia Cruz and Gram Parsons: who are the icons of “Early Influence”
Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons are the five artists included in the “Early Influence” category. This is one of the special categories dedicated to singers and musicians who have achieved success quickly. Celia Cruz is one of the queens of Cuban salsa. Her most successful song is undoubtedly La vida es un Carnaval. It’s not just dance, but a profound sense of belonging to her homeland, Havana, and Cuba.
Fela Kuti, on the other hand, is the symbol of Afrobeat music: a blend of funk and R&B. His personality transcended music. He was a symbolic spokesperson for his homeland, Nigeria. A highly active revolutionary, he is well known for his battles for human rights, freedom, and political opposition to successive Nigerian governments.
Queen Latifah is another queen of jazz rap. An icon of American music and cinema, she was the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over two million records sold, 25 awards won, and a pioneer who paved the way for many other artists who were inspired by her.
MC Lyte, an American actress and rapper, like Queen Latifah, has contributed to the growth and recognition of rap worldwide. She is considered one of the most respected veterans of her genre; at 55, she too was a prominent figure in the 1980s.
Gram Parsons is widely considered the pioneer of country rock. A definition that country diehards dislike, because they consider the cowboy genre a unique refinement. A Florida native, he died of drug abuse at the age of 26. He was young but already quite influential. His most illustrious legacy includes collaborations with The Byrds and the Submarine Band.
The icons of “Musical Excellence”
Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Rick Rubin were awarded in the category recognizing artists who have made a significant contribution to music as authors, lyricists, and producers. Linda Creed wrote the song’s lyrics during a dramatic moment in her life. The artist died at the age of 37. The Greatest Love of All is precisely about self-love. It achieved worldwide success with a cover of Whitney Houston’s song in 1985.
Arif Mardin is a well-known Turkish-American record producer. He has contributed to successful albums by Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Steve Wonder, Eric Clapton, and Phil Collins, to name a few. Throughout his long career, he has composed several film soundtracks, including Beaches, Labyrinth,” Coming to America, and Better Off Dead. He was the most important figure for Atlantic Records.
Jimmy Miller is the other illustrious representative of the music producer universe. He’s well-known in the rock world, especially for his connection to the Rolling Stones. But before that, he shared an artistic partnership with the Spencer Davis Group, authors of the legendary song Gimme Some Lovin.
And then there’s Rick Rubin, always on the music scene. He’s worked with rock greats like Mick Jagger, Johnny Cash, Metallica, AC/DC, and Aerosmith. Rubin’s work has also been recorded by pop legends like Shakira, Adele, and Kanye West. He founded the American Recordings label and later served as president of Columbia Records.
The “Ahmet Ertegun” Award is named after the founder of the RNR Hall. It was awarded to renowned entertainer, journalist, and television producer Ed Sullivan, a prominent figure in American television who made a fundamental contribution to rock and roll.
What does the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame represent?
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was founded in Cleveland on April 20, 1983, and has been strongly supported. Ahmet Ertegun, then head of Atlantic Records, organized a meeting with journalists, record companies, and lawyers to announce the idea. The decision to locate the venue in Cleveland was purely financial: other cities with stronger connections to music were in the running, but money made the difference.
Who decides the Rock Hall artists? Prominent members of the international recording industry are eligible to vote, as are fans who vote through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website. The first major names in world music to be inducted were Elvis Presley, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Chuck Berry. They paved the way. Every year, the selection of the artists elicits discussion among fans and artists alike. Every year, there’s a new story to tell, a legend to crown.
