Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images (Christian Rose/Roger Viollet, Goedefroit Music)

Take a look at them now. No, really, these are your 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan all made the final cut for this year’s decidedly Gen-X class of cool and hip performers. The eight inductees triumphed from the pool of 17 hopefuls trying to earn a spot, with one of them, Collins, now joining the exclusive Rock Hall Two-Timers Club due to his previous induction for Genesis. To add some additional chaos to the proceedings, the Rock Hall is also honoring Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons for the Early Influence Award; Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Rick Rubin for the Musical Excellence Award; and Ed Sullivan for the industry-specific Ahmet Ertegun Award. Most of these names have never appeared on a prior ballot — a separate committee selects them — and, crucially, don’t include beloved contenders the B-52s or “Weird Al” Yankovic. All in all, that results in 18 (18!) total inductees this year. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14, in Los Angeles. It will once again be livestreamed on Disney+ and air as a condensed special on ABC in late 2026.

Despite a decisive Fan Vote win, first-time nominees New Edition were snubbed for an induction, as was Mariah Carey on her third consecutive nomination. “You make 12 people happy each year, and 30,000 get mad,” chairman John Sykes told us last year. “So we fight and do our best to recognize the names that will make the final cut.” Sykes also stressed that the additional trio of inductee categories shouldn’t be considered subordinate despite mixed public perception about their purpose. “No matter what category you’re in, Performer or those other three, it’s the same size plaque on the wall right next to Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and the Beatles,” he said. “It’s not a secondary award. It’s equal to getting in as a performer.”

While it’s unclear this early what the 2026 ceremony will look like, Iron Maiden is touring Australia in mid-November and will be no-shows due to the scheduling conflict. Idol and Wu-Tang Clan, meanwhile, are still active performers who relish their time on the road (when they choose to show up, that is) and are likely attendees. Sade, who have been inactive since their final performances in 2011, would be a gorgeous sight for sore eyes; so would Oasis, but nobody can predict anything the Gallagher brothers will do despite their wildly successful 2025 reunion world tour. Collins, who has dealt with health issues for several years, seems to be doing better and is destined for an all-star segment, as is Vandross, who died in 2005 and is currently having a renaissance of legacy. That leaves Joy Division and New Order, who have been in warring factions since a lawsuit about royalties and name rights was initiated by Peter Hook nearly a decade ago. It’s a bizarre love triangle of sorts, sure, but can’t they just make up for one night only?

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