Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026: 17 Nominees From Shakira and Iron Maiden to Oasis

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drops its list of nominees, it’s a bit like the rock draft. This year, the 2026 selection is generating plenty of buzz: 17 artists are on the ballot, spanning everything from heavy metal to hip-hop, Britpop to Latin pop. With ten first-time nominations and several returning contenders, this class is shaping up to be explosive. Let’s break it down.

An XXL ballot: 17 artists in the running for the Class of 2026

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its list this Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Among the 17 nominees: Oasis, Iron Maiden, Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan, P!NK, Jeff Buckley, INXS, Luther Vandross, Sade, New Edition, Billy Idol, Melissa Etheridge, The Black Crowes, and Joy Division/New Order. A more stacked lineup than in previous years.

The leading favorites: Oasis, Lauryn Hill, and the ballot’s heavy hitters

Among the most talked-about names, Oasis is back for the third consecutive year. The Gallagher brothers, whose reunion tour crashed Ticketmaster in 2025, have momentum on their side. It’s hard to imagine the Rock Hall passing them over again.

Lauryn Hill appears on the ballot for the first time. The first female rapper to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1999 with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her influence on hip-hop and neo soul remains immense.

Among the repeat nominees, Mariah Carey and Iron Maiden are also on their third nomination, as is Joy Division/New Order. Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson may have called the institution “complete nonsense,” but he also admitted he would attend if the band were inducted. Rock in all its contradictory glory.

First-time nominees: Shakira, Wu-Tang, Jeff Buckley, and more

Among the ten first-time nominees, several stand out:

• Shakira: currently on a world tour for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, the Colombian singer has embodied Latin pop for three decades.
• Wu-Tang Clan: the architects of New York hip-hop are finally on the ballot, correcting a long-standing anomaly.
• Luther Vandross: the R&B legend who passed away in 2005, and a producer for Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.
• Jeff Buckley: just one studio album (Grace, 1994) and an immense legacy. A unique case in Rock Hall history.

Is rock still at the heart of the Rock Hall?

It’s the annual debate. Of the 17 nominees, roughly half are pure rock acts: The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, and Oasis. The rest lean toward pop, R&B, and hip-hop.

The foundation’s president embraces the shift, referring to a list that reflects rock’s constant evolution. For purists, that’s debatable. For others, rock has always been about rebellion and energy—not just distorted guitars.

What’s next? The key dates to remember

The Class of 2026 inductees will be announced in April, alongside the recipients of the special awards (Musical Influence, Musical Excellence, Ahmet Ertegun Award). The ceremony is scheduled for fall 2026, with the date and location still to be confirmed.

With such an eclectic ballot, the debates are only just beginning. At Woodbrass, we already have our favorites—but we’ll let you guess which ones.

Sources

• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — 2026 Nominees (official website)
• NPR — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 shortlist includes Lauryn Hill, Shakira and Wu-Tang Clan
• Rolling Stone — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026: Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, Oasis Lead Nominees
• Billboard — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Unveils 2026 Nominees: See the Complete List
• CBS News — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame unveils 2026 nominees