From Iron Maiden to Shakira: The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Are a Serious Melting Pot

Every year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces its nominees, and every year someone on the internet asks the same question: wait, is that actually rock and roll?

This year, that question has never been louder — or more fun.

The Rock Hall unveiled 17 nominees for its Class of 2026 on Wednesday, spanning heavy metal, hip-hop, R&B, Latin pop, post-punk, Britpop, new wave, and whatever you want to call Phil Collins (no shade intended, he's brilliant). It is, to put it plainly, a lot.