Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Unveils 2026 Nominees Including Carey, Collins, Lauryn Hill
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced 17 performer nominees spanning rap, metal, R&B and pop, with inductees to be revealed in April.
Boston GlobeNew Edition, Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross and Shakira get Rock Hall nominations
PBS NewsHourMariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Phil Collins and Shakira get Rock Hall nominations
NPRRock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 shortlist includes Lauryn Hill, Shakira and Wu-Tang Clan
Daily Beast‘It’s Tiiiiime!’ for the Rock Hall of Fame to Induct This Pop Diva
Overview
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame revealed the list of 17 performer nominees Wednesday, including Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross and Shakira.
The shortlist spans rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock and pop and reflects the Hall’s broadened definition of rock, with artists eligible at least 25 years after their first commercial recording.
John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said the diverse list recognizes the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture.
Ten of the 17 nominees are on the ballot for the first time, nominees will be voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals, and several acts are repeat nominees.
The 2026 inductees will be revealed in April, and inductees will also be named under committee categories for musical influence, musical excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present largely neutral, factual coverage of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees, focusing on roster details, career milestones and eligibility rules. They rely on attributed quotes (John Sykes) and concrete data (Grammy counts, chart hits) rather than evaluative language, offering no evident omission of major viewpoints or editorializing.
FAQ
Ten of the 17 nominees are appearing on the ballot for the first time: Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, P!NK, Shakira, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Inductees are selected by an international voting panel composed of over 1,200 **artists, historians, and music industry professionals**, combined with a **fan vote component**.[1]
Artists or bands must have released their **first commercial recording at least 25 years ago** to become eligible for nomination.
The 2026 **Performer Inductees will be revealed in April**, along with inductees entering through three special committee categories: Musical Influence, Musical Excellence, and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award.[1]
The 17 nominees span a diverse range of genres including **rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock, and pop**, reflecting the Hall's broadened definition of rock and its continued impact on youth culture.[2]