Topic / Subject

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame dropped its 17 performer nominees for the Class of 2026, and the fan vote is now open ahead of an April inductee reveal. 

TL;DR / Summary

Rock Hall’s 2026 nominees are out (17 acts), the fan vote is open, and the official class gets revealed in April with the ceremony expected in fall 2026.

Key Details

The Rock Hall announced 17 Performer Nominees for 2026 induction and opened the fan vote.  The 2026 nominee list: 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; Wu-Tang Clan.  The Rock Hall says the 2026 Performer Inductees will be revealed in April, along with special committee category honorees (Musical Influence, Musical Excellence, Ahmet Ertegun Award).  The induction ceremony is slated for fall 2026 (exact date/ticket details TBD).  The Rock Hall says nominee ballots go to an international voting panel of more than 1,200 artists, historians, and industry pros.  Fan voting is live now and you can cast a ballot daily. 

Breakdown

This ballot is basically a “pick your lane” list: pop megastars, rap icons, metal lifers, and Britpop chaos all on the same sheet. That’s why it turns into a month-long argument every time.

The main thing to remember: the fan vote is a headline machine, but the final class comes from the larger voting body. So the leaderboard can be fun, but it’s not the whole story. 

Also, April doesn’t just mean the performer class. The Hall bundles in the special committee categories too, which is how the “surprise names” often land. 

What to Watch Next

How the fan vote leaderboard shifts as campaigns and stan armies kick in.  The April inductee announcement (performers + special committee categories).  Fall ceremony details: location, date, broadcast/streaming partner, and tickets.

Sources

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Reveals 2026 Performer Nominees List 

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — 2026 Nominees 

Los Angeles Times — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces nominees for Class of 2026 

AP — Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross and Shakira get Rock Hall nominations 

Comment

Who’s your “how are they not already in?” pick from this ballot?