Forty years after its first induction, the Rock & Roll Hall is capping off a banner year with the 2026 ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Phil Collins, Luther Vandross, Sade, Billy Idol, and Iron Maiden lead this year’s class of 1980s icons entering the hall alongside British post-punk legends Joy Division and their spin-off group, New Order, Ideastream Public Media reported.
Acts become eligible for nomination 25 years after releasing their first record, with inductees chosen by a voting panel of 1,200 musicians and industry experts.
Some unexpected roadblocks got in the way, comedian John Mulaney deadpanned regarding his Hall coverage for Rolling Stone.
Alongside the performer category, the 2026 class honors several groups and artists spanning decades of music history. Recently reunited British band Oasis enters the hall this year, joined by hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan.
Iron Maiden will not be attending the ceremony at the Peacock Theater due to tour dates in Australia. Singer Bruce Dickinson addressed the band’s absence, said their perspective on the institution.
“I can’t even summon the energy to be vitriolic about it.” “I appreciate that a significant number of people are happy for us.” “That’s nice.”
Ten additional figures were selected across the early influence, non-performing, and behind-the-scenes categories. Ed Sullivan receives the Ahmet Ertegun Award posthumously for his Sunday night television show that hosted artists including the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, and the Supremes over 23 years.
The induction ceremony anchors a busy autumn for the Cleveland museum, which partnered with Rush in September to honor the Canadian progressive trio. The band donated several artifacts to the institution following their 2013 induction.