The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has announced a list of 17 Performer Nominees to be considered for 2026 Induction. They include 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, P!NK, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. Fan voting for the Nominees is available now at: https://vote.rockhall.com/
“This diverse list of talented Nominees recognizes the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture”, said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is music’s highest honor and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 this Fall.”
Artists or bands become eligible for nomination 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording. This year’s 17 Nominees include 10 who are on the ballot for the first time: Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, P!NK, Shakira, Luther Vandross, Wu-Tang Clan.
Nominee ballots will be distributed to an international voting panel composed of over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals. The selection criteria include an artist’s impact on music culture, influence on other musicians that have followed, as well as the scope and longevity of their career and body of work. Select Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members and donors receive exclusive opportunities to secure tickets to the Induction Ceremony. Visit www.rockhall.com/membership for more information.
The 2026 Performer Inductees will be revealed in April, along with those Inductees entering the Hall under three special committee categories: Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non – Performer Award. This year’s Induction Ceremony will take place in the Fall, with exact dates and ticket sale details following soon. Although the event traditionally has been held in either New York, Los Angeles or Cleveland, rumor has it that this year’s event might be held right here in Nashville at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University.
Speaking of the Fisher Center, the Musicians Hall of Fame Concert and Induction Ceremony is set to take place at The Fisher Center for Performing Arts, April 28, at 7:30 PM. The 2026 Inductees include Dann Huff, Dolly Parton, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Boylan, Keith Urban, Leland Sklar, Michael McDonald and Nicky Hopkins.
Dolly Parton is the most honored and revered multi-hyphenate of all time and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Recently, Dolly debuted “Dolly: A True Original Musical” in Nashville as a thank you to her home state and community that has uplifted her for decades. The musical will make its official Broadway debut in 2026. Her recent album Rockstar made history by scoring the biggest album debut sales week of her seven-decade career and earning her six #1s on the Billboard charts: Top Rock Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Country Albums, Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales, and Independent Albums.
