Inside the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Sunday, 15 November 2026 at 09:49

Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted its most eclectic class yet, welcoming legends from heavy metal, hip-hop, post-punk, and Britpop

If you tried to put together a mixtape that captured Saturday night’s 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, you’d end up with one of the wildest playlists in music history. From British stadium anthems and punk-pop sneers to Staten Island street poetry and velvet-voiced soul, the Class of 2026 proved once and for all that "rock and roll" is an attitude, not a single guitar tone.

U2 kicked things off with a surprise opening set, tearing through "Pride (In the Name of Love)" before the night officially belonged to the eight Performer inductees.

Leading the charge was Phil Collins, who became one of fewer than 30 artists in history to enter the Hall twice—having already been inducted with Genesis back in 2010. Introduced by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, an emotional Collins promised the crowd, "You haven't heard the last from me," right before Cynthia Erivo brought the house down with a powerhouse vocal tribute to "In the Air Tonight," complete with Barker behind the kit for that iconic drum fill.

Across the aisle in the British invasion wing, punk-pop pioneer Billy Idol finally got his due. With platinum hair, black leather, and longtime guitarist Steve Stevens by his side, Idol took the stage to prove why MTV-era classics like "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" still pack a punch four decades later.

Not every British icon made the trip to L.A., though. Oasis—the youngest inductees in the class—famously skipped the festivities, with Liam Gallagher joking earlier in the week that he’d rather stack the dishwasher than attend. Still, it’s impossible to ignore the cultural gravity of Noel and Liam’s catalog, from the acoustic singalong immortality of "Wonderwall" to the defiant roar of "Don't Look Back in Anger."

Heavy metal titans Iron Maiden were also absent, opting to honor their commitment to fans on tour in Australia rather than pause the road for an industry trophy. The Hall wasn't about to let Maiden’s 50th-anniversary year pass quietly, however: Jack Black inducted the band before joining a blistering all-star supergroup—featuring St. Vincent, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, John 5, and Brad Wilk—for a galloping rendition of "The Trooper."

Rounding out the U.K. contingent were Joy Division/New Order and Sade. Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor inducted Joy Division/New Order, tracing their evolutionary arc from the stark post-punk bleakness of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" to the dance-floor revolution of "Blue Monday," with bassist Peter Hook on hand to perform. Meanwhile, Sade—who also chose to skip the ceremony—was celebrated for a sleek, timeless catalog anchored by "Smooth Operator" and "No Ordinary Love."

If the British contingent brought the drama, hip-hop and R&B brought the heart of the room. Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan entered on their very first ballot, turning the Peacock Theater into a block party with a live performance of "C.R.E.A.M." As Method Man reminded the audience from the podium, "We went from being banned on the radio to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

And in one of the evening’s most moving moments, Oprah Winfrey inducted the late Luther Vandross, honoring a voice that defined romance for generations through classics like "Never Too Much" and "Dance with My Father."

The night didn't stop at the main Performer category. Hip-hop trailblazers Queen Latifah (honored for anthems like "U.N.I.T.Y." and "Ladies First") and MC Lyte ("Cha Cha Cha" and "Ruffneck") entered via the Early Influence Award alongside posthumous legends Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti, and Celia Cruz—teaming up with Megan Thee Stallion and Remy Ma for a high-voltage medley. Behind-the-scenes architects Rick Rubin, Jimmy Miller, Arif Mardin, and Linda Creed received Musical Excellence honors, while television pioneer Ed Sullivan received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

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