Rock Hall 2026: Oasis, Wu-Tang and Iron Maiden In
Eight performers and ten other honorees make up the 2026 Rock Hall class, from Oasis to Wu-Tang Clan. The ceremony tapes Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026 is one of the most varied in years. Eight performers, five Early Influence honorees, four Musical Excellence honorees and one Ahmet Ertegun Award winner make up the group, and Reuters describes the group as spanning rock, hip-hop, punk and global artists. The induction ceremony will be taped on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with the recorded special debuting in December on ABC and, the next day, on Disney+, according to the Hall's announcement and Disney's listing. Exact air dates had not been published when we checked.
The full list
The Hall announced the names on April 13, live on ABC and Disney+ during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode of American Idol, with Ryan Seacrest and 2022 inductee Lionel Richie reading them out.
Performer category: Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Early Influence Award: Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons.
Musical Excellence Award: Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin.
Ahmet Ertegun Award: Ed Sullivan.
Who was new, and who waited
Phil Collins, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan were first-time nominees, which means each went from the ballot to the induction in a single year. Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis and Sade had all been nominated before. For Iron Maiden and Oasis in particular, the induction arrives while both bands are on huge tours. Iron Maiden's own announcement of 2027 North American dates on Oct. 16 describes the band as "a 2026 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame," and Oasis sold out all 42 dates of its 2027 tour in a weekend in September.
How the Hall defines its categories
The rules explain why the list looks the way it does. To be eligible, an artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years before the year of nomination. The Hall's four induction categories are defined this way in its announcement:
Performers are artists whose music has "originality, impact, and influence" that has changed the course of rock and roll. The Early Influence Award goes to artists whose music and performance style directly influenced and evolved rock and roll and music that impacts culture. The Musical Excellence Award covers artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence have had a dramatic impact on music. The Ahmet Ertegun Award honors non-performing industry professionals.
Those definitions are broad, and the 2026 list uses all four. Four people share the Musical Excellence Award, and the Ertegun Award, which is reserved for non-performers, goes to Ed Sullivan.
A wide door
Every year the same argument returns: what counts as rock and roll? The Hall's answer, quoted by Disney from chairman John Sykes, is that induction is "music's highest honor." This class pushes the answer wide, with five Early Influence honorees alongside the eight performers. We rely on the Hall's own lists here and do not characterize individual careers beyond what the Hall and Reuters state.
The ceremony and the road ahead
Taping in Los Angeles is a notable detail for the Hall, which is based in Cleveland. The foundation says the induction will return to Cleveland in 2027. Ticket on-sale details for the 2026 ceremony were to be announced later, and member presale access is now closed, per the Hall's membership FAQ. Anyone who wants to watch will do so at home in December.
What we could not confirm
We could not verify who will perform at the ceremony or which presenters will induct which acts. The Hall had not published those details in the sources we reviewed. We also did not find an official statement from the inductees themselves beyond the announcement.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Rock Hall induction ceremony?
It tapes on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and debuts in December on ABC and Disney+.
Who are the 2026 performer inductees?
Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Who is eligible for the Rock Hall?
An artist or band whose first commercial recording was released at least 25 years before the year of nomination.
Where will the 2027 ceremony be held?
In Cleveland, according to the Hall.
Sources
*Cover photo: Raph_PH, Wikimedia Commons, *[*https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OasisWembleyStadium030825-49.jpg*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OasisWembleyStadium030825-49.jpg)* (CC BY 4.0).*