The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for its Class of 2026, including Oasis, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Shakira and Lauryn Hill.
This year’s ballot also features Pink, The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
The final list of inductees will be confirmed in April, alongside recipients of the Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and Ahmet Ertegun awards.
Rock Hall chairman John Sykes said the 2026 nominees reflect the genre’s continued evolution.
He said: “This diverse list of talented nominees recognises the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock Roll and its continued impact on youth culture.
“Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is music’s highest honour and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 this Fall.”
To qualify, an artist’s first commercial release must be at least 25 years old, meaning this year’s nominees all debuted in 2001 or earlier. Collins is already an inductee through Genesis, but this marks his first nomination as a solo act.
First-time nominees include Buckley, Etheridge, Hill, INXS, New Edition, Pink, Shakira, Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Carey is hoping to break through after being passed over the last two years, while Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order and Oasis all return for their third nominations.
The Black Crowes, Billy Idol and Sade receive their second nods.
Oasis’ inclusion once again comes after frontman Liam Gallagher repeatedly dismissed the Hall of Fame despite the band’s growing number of nominations.
After Oasis received their second nod last year, Liam blasted the institution on X, writing: “RNR hall of fame is for W******.”
He followed up with: “F*** the Rock n Roll hall of fame its full of BUMBACLARTS LG (sic).”
When a fan asked what he would do if Oasis were actually inducted, he admitted he’d still show up: “Obv go and say it’s the best thing EVER (sic).”
Liam has criticised the Hall before, telling The Sunday Times in 2024 that he didn’t want to be part of “anything that mentally disturbed,” adding: “As much as I love Mariah Carey and all that, I want to say: do me a favour and f*** off… I’ve done more for rock n’ roll than half of them clowns on that board.”
His brother Noel has also made his stance clear. Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2017, he recalled being approached by a Hall of Fame representative:
He said: “He started going on, and I said, ‘Let me f****** stop you there… it won’t be f****** happening, OK?’”
Asked whether Oasis deserved a place, Noel joked: “I certainly think I do! There could be a little miniature of me somewhere – a tiny little thing with a wobbly head.”
Last year’s class included Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, The White Stripes and Soundgarden.
