The future of rock: Predictions for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class

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Okay, so the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026 is finally getting revealed! I’m planning to find out who made the cut live by watching American Idol on ABC – or, if I’m not near a TV, I’ll stream it on Disney+ or Hulu. It all goes down on Monday, April 13th, at 8 pm Eastern time.

Expect a few surprises during the induction process. While New Edition won the fan vote, their inclusion feels strange. They made some catchy songs, but their overall body of work and impact weren’t quite strong enough to justify a place in the Hall of Fame.

Five musical artists most likely to be inducted as part of the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class

Phil Collins

Phil Collins is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame thanks to his work with Genesis. Despite being eligible for years, he hadn’t been nominated as a solo artist until 2026. But even without considering his 14 top-10 hits, Collins deserves recognition for his exceptional drumming and the unique way it was captured in recordings. Numerous bands have attempted to replicate his sound, but none have succeeded.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey has been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times. Though she’s primarily a pop artist, the Hall often overlooks genre boundaries when making its selections. While having 19 number-one hits might be enough to earn her a spot, the fact that she wrote all of those songs herself also demonstrates her exceptional talent as a songwriter.

Iron Maiden

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has started to include more metal bands, like when they inducted Judas Priest in 2022. While Priest is fantastic, Iron Maiden had a bigger impact on music. In fact, Maiden helped inspire the thrash metal genre and influenced countless bands, most notably Metallica, which is why they deserve to be inducted. It wasn’t just about album sales; it was their lasting influence on future generations of musicians.

Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross was a truly exceptional singer who, despite not always getting the recognition he deserved, possessed an incredible voice and a remarkable ability to make any song his own. Even though he passed away over two decades ago, his impact on music continues, as evidenced by his induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and his lasting influence on today’s artists.

Kendrick Lamar’s song “luther” pays tribute to Luther Vandross. It won him the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2026.

Wu-Tang Clan

Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and A Tribe Called Quest are already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and it would be a huge mistake to leave out Wu-Tang Clan. They were incredibly influential across many music genres and were consistently amazing performers. Their song “Shame,” featuring System of a Down, is a classic.

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2026-04-10 16:30