New Edition Claims Top Spot in 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote
New Edition has emerged as the clear winner in the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan vote, securing an impressive 1,022,683 votes. This achievement places them at the top of the ballot, though it does not guarantee their induction into the Hall of Fame for this year’s class. The final inductees will be determined by a combination of the fan vote and the opinions of an international panel of over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals.
The fan vote is one of several components used to select the inductees. While the top seven nominees from the fan ballot are included in the final decision, the ultimate selection is made by the voting panel. The results of the fan vote have been closely followed throughout the campaign, with New Edition steadily rising to the top.
Top Seven Nominees Revealed
After the 2026 ballot closed, the following artists and bands finished in the top seven:
- New Edition: 1,022,683 votes
- Phil Collins: 900,825 votes
- P!NK: 852,581 votes
- Shakira: 738,034 votes
- Luther Vandross: 732,747 votes
- INXS: 645,021 votes
- Sade: 622,997 votes
Other notable nominees include Wu-Tang Clan, Billy Idol, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Iron Maiden, Melissa Etheridge, The Black Crowes, Oasis, Joy Division + New Order, and Jeff Buckley.
Fan Vote Evolution
The fan vote saw significant shifts over time, with New Edition gaining momentum as the campaign progressed. Here’s a look at how the standings evolved:
As of 6:25 a.m. on March 26:
- New Edition: 785,022 votes (first-time nominee)
- Phil Collins: 694,360 votes (first-time nominee as a solo artist; previously inducted with Genesis in 2010)
- P!NK: 639,202 votes (first-time nominee)
- Luther Vandross: 563,668 votes (first-time nominee)
- INXS: 489,599 votes (first-time nominee)
- Sade: 480,000 votes
- Billy Idol: 458,621 votes
- Wu-Tang Clan: 457,154 votes (first-time nominee)
- Shakira: 446,835 votes (first-time nominee)
- Mariah Carey: 395,094 votes
- Lauryn Hill: 365,293 votes (first-time nominee)
- Iron Maiden: 307,924 votes
- Melissa Etheridge: 295,694 votes (first-time nominee)
- The Black Crowes: 212,508 votes
- Oasis: 206,811 votes
- Joy Division/New Order: 180,186 votes
- Jeff Buckley: 134,529 votes (first-time nominee)
As of 11 a.m. on March 4:
- Phil Collins: 233,837 votes
- New Edition: 195,305 votes
- P!NK: 175,879 votes
- Luther Vandross: 171,394 votes
- Billy Idol: 154,706 votes
- Sade: 150,039 votes
- INXS: 149,032 votes
- Mariah Carey: 135,339 votes
- Wu-Tang Clan: 132,061 votes
- Lauryn Hill: 119,387 votes
- Iron Maiden: 112,330 votes
- Melissa Etheridge: 96,748 votes
- Oasis: 84,546 votes
- The Black Crowes: 74,786 votes
- Shakira: 72,617 votes
- Joy Division/New Order: 71,097 votes
- Jeff Buckley: 59,323 votes
How Eligibility Works
Artists or bands become eligible for nomination 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the selection criteria include an artist’s impact on music culture, influence on other musicians, and the scope and longevity of their career and body of work.
Additional Updates
Fans can look forward to the announcement of the 2026 inductees, which will take place live on “American Idol” on Monday, April 13. The city hosting this year’s induction ceremony will also be revealed that night.
For more information, fans can explore the full list of inductees dating back to the first induction in 1986. Other related stories include Nancy Wilson of Heart’s push to get Howard Stern inducted and Phish’s exclusion from the 2026 nominees despite dominating last year’s fan vote.
