The 2026 induction class for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been announced, and a record number of British acts are on the list.
Six acts from the UK are being recognised in the main Performer category, breaking the previous record of five in 2019. This year the British inductees are: Oasis, Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden and Sade. Rounding out the class is American soul/R&B singer and producer, Luther Vandross and American hip-hip collective, Wu-Tang Clan.
In February the Rock Hall announced 17 nominees for the Performer category which were then narrowed to just 8 inductees by a panel of 1,200 artists, historians and industry professionals.
Both Sade, Nigerian-British front woman of her namesake band, and English rocker Billy Idol have been nominated once before. Meanwhile heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, have been nominated three times for the honor. Phil Collins was inducted in 2010 as a member of Genesis, but this is his first nomination as a solo act.
2026’s nomination marks the third consecutive year of the nod for Oasis. Frontman Liam Gallagher shared his thoughts on the induction on X this morning saying “ever since I was a little kid and singing in the shower I’d dream about 1 day being in the RnR hall of fame.”
I wanna thank all the people who voted for us it’s a real honour ever since I was a little kid and singing in the shower I’d dream about 1 day being in the RnR hall of fame it’s true what they say anything is possible if you have a dream LG x
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) April 14, 2026
The sentiment is contrary to his previous comments on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Gallagher dismissed the band’s 2025 nomination, writing on X “RNR hall of fame is for WANKERS.”
This morning, a fan responded to Gallagher’s acknowledgment of the induction asking, “what happened to not wanting to be in it.” Gallagher said that speaking with his mother changed his mind: “she thinks I may have been a little hasty with my perception of the organization she’s told me to stop being a d**k and go to the awards and behave and you never know you might enjoy it.”
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson has also expressed critique with the Hall of Fame. On a tour in 2018 Dickinson said he believed the Hall was “a load of bollocks” and in 2023 he told The Telegraph “I don’t want to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, because we’re not dead yet!”
Sade’s induction carries significance with it, as she will be the first British Black woman inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sade was born in Nigeria and has lived in the UK since age 4. Her nominal band broke America, seeing great success there: 2010’s ‘Soldier of Love’ went Number 1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts.
Other induction categories include Early Influence featuring, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifa, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons.
Also to be inducted but into the Musical Excellence category is Rick Rubin, Linda Creed, Arif Mardin and Jimmy Miller.
Finally, receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award, given to a non-performing professional, is Ed Sullivan.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 Induction ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday 14 November. In December, a recording will air on Disney+ and ABC.
