The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class, and it is a heavy one. Oasis, Iron Maiden, Wu-Tang Clan, Phil Collins, Sade, Billy Idol, Joy Division and New Order, and the late Luther Vandross will all be inducted as performers this November, joining an institution that continues to grapple with its own definition of rock.

Wu-Tang Clan on their Forever: The Final Chamber farewell tour
Wu-Tang Clan, currently on their farewell tour, enter the Hall on their first nomination

The announcement came during a specially themed episode of American Idol, with Hall of Famer Lionel Richie and Ryan Seacrest delivering the news. Three of the inductees are first-time nominees: Vandross, whose voice lent itself to Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning track of the same name; the Wu-Tang Clan, who are mid-way through what they have called a farewell tour; and Collins, who enters as a solo act after previously being inducted as a member of Genesis in 2010.

It is the third nomination for Oasis, Iron Maiden and Joy Division/New Order, and the second for both Sade and Billy Idol. The latter has been openly campaigning for induction for years, making his inclusion less of a surprise than it might first appear.

The 2026 Rock Hall nominees announcement from February
The original nominees announcement in February set the stage for this year's diverse class

The drama is already building around who will actually show up. Liam Gallagher famously tweeted "Fuck the Rock n Roll hall of fame its full of BUMBACLARTS" after Oasis were nominated in 2024, though he appears to have softened that stance. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson previously dismissed the Hall as "an utter and complete load of bollocks." Then there is the fascinating prospect of Phil Collins and Noel Gallagher sharing a stage, given Gallagher's well-documented disdain for Collins' music.

Rolling Stone's coverage of the 2026 Rock Hall inductees
The 2026 class spans hip-hop, R&B, Britpop, heavy metal and post-punk

Several artists will also be honoured in other categories. The Early Influence Award goes to Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons. The Musical Excellence Award goes to Rick Rubin, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Linda Creed. The Ahmet Ertegun Award, for non-performers, goes posthumously to Ed Sullivan. Notably, the group of performer inductees contains only two women: Sade and New Order's Gillian Gilbert.

Snubbed this year: Mariah Carey (now a seven-time nominee without success), Shakira, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Pink, the Black Crowes and the late Jeff Buckley. The ceremony takes place November 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, with the broadcast airing on ABC and Disney+ in December.