The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has officially announced its Class of 2026, delivering a landmark moment for Nigerian music as both the legendary Fela Kuti and the iconic Sade Adu are set to be inducted. The announcement features a diverse roster of eight performers and a robust selection of special honourees, signalling the institution’s ongoing commitment to reflecting a global musical landscape.
Sade Adu, known for her distinctive, velvety vocals and a string of timeless hits spanning the 80s and 90s, Sade’s impact remains visible today in the work of modern superstars ranging from Adele to Drake.
Joining her in the Performer bracket are British rock mainstays Oasis and Iron Maiden, the genre-bending Joy Division/New Order, and solo powerhouses Phil Collins and Billy Idol. R&B titan Luther Vandross and the legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan round out the class.
Joining Sade in the Performer category is a heavyweight lineup of legends: the Staten Island hip-hop pioneers Wu-Tang Clan, R&B powerhouse Luther Vandross, and the chart-topping drummer-turned-frontman Phil Collins.
The class is rounded out by the punk-rock attitude of Billy Idol, the anthemic heavy metal of Iron Maiden, the post-punk and electronic evolution of Joy Division / New Order, and the Britpop giants Oasis, whose recent reunion has reignited global interest in the Gallagher brothers.
In a significant win for African music history, Fela Kuti has been honoured with the Early Influence Award. As the father of Afrobeat, Kuti’s fusion of highlife, jazz, and funk became a revolutionary force that challenged political norms and reshaped the rhythmic DNA of global pop.
He is recognised alongside a trailblazing group of Early Influence recipients, including the “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz, hip-hop royalty Queen Latifah and MC Lyte, and country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons.
The 2026 class also celebrates the architects behind the scenes through the Musical Excellence Award.
This year’s recipients include prolific songwriter Linda Creed, legendary producers Arif Mardin and Jimmy Miller, and the genre-defining co-founder of Def Jam, Rick Rubin.
To be eligible for induction, an artist must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for November 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
