Tearful Phil Collins Steals the Show as Rock Hall Welcomes Class of 2026

Phil Collins gave a tearful acceptance speech, Oprah Winfrey inducted the late Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan turned the Peacock Theater into a rowdy celebration as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its class of 2026 in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Read the full story of the Rock Hall of Fame 2026 ceremony on Watan News.

FAKTA

• The 2026 induction ceremony took place on Saturday, 14 November, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
• Eighteen new inductees were honoured across four categories.
• The performer class was Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
• Phil Collins, 75, took the stage slowly using two canes and cried at a huge ovation from the crowd, which included his daughter, actor Lily Collins.
• The edited ceremony will air on ABC on Tuesday, 8 December, and stream on Disney+ and Hulu from 9 December. The ceremony returns to Cleveland in 2027.

A Night at the Rock Hall of Fame 2026 Ceremony

The show is in Los Angeles for the second straight year, and organisers have said it will be there more often while still rotating to New York and Cleveland, where the actual hall resides. After streaming the ceremony live in recent years, the Rock Hall returned to its previous model, with the public seeing an edited version in December.

The class spans British rock, hip-hop, soul, post-punk and influential music pioneers. Phil Collins, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan were first-time nominees. To be eligible for induction, an artist must have released a first commercial recording at least 25 years before the year of nomination.

Phil Collins and the Night’s Most Emotional Moment

Collins was already in the hall as a member of Genesis, inducted in 2010, but this was his solo honour. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker inducted him and praised his unprecedented dual stardom as a drummer and a hit-making pop singer in the 1980s. Collins, whose mobility issues and other health problems kept him from performing, took the stage slowly using a pair of canes and cried at the huge ovation.

Cynthia Erivo gave what was described as an electrifying tribute to Collins. He ended his speech with the line: “And now, I’m gonna party with the Wu-Tang Clan!”

Oprah Inducts Luther Vandross

Winfrey, whose presence was unannounced, inducted the late Luther Vandross, calling him “the maestro of the love song” and saying he was once correctly named “the top artist that people make looove to”. Vandross, an R&B singer with a velvet voice, was one of the definitive singers of the 1980s and 1990s. He died in 2005 at the age of 54. Usher performed a musical tribute to him after Winfrey’s introduction.

Hip-Hop Takes the Stage

Wu-Tang Clan, the epic hip-hop collective from New York’s Staten Island, filled the stage with its 10 current members, giving a memorable acceptance speech and a performance that had the crowd on its feet and dancing. Comedian Chris Rock inducted the group, praising its innovative influence on the genre.

Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti and Gram Parsons were honoured in the Early Influence category. Fela Kuti became the first African-born artist to enter the Hall. Producer Rick Rubin was also honoured, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers paying tribute by dressing as Rubin.

The Absent Stars and the Surprise Finale

Sade, Iron Maiden and Oasis did not attend their induction ceremony on Saturday. But there was no shortage of surprises during the star-studded night, which ended with a surprise performance by Run-DMC and Aerosmith of their classic collaboration. Billy Idol, meanwhile, had the crowd yelling along, and Joy Division/New Order and Iron Maiden were inducted alongside the rest of the class.

Conclusion

The 2026 ceremony was a night of contrasts: tears for Phil Collins, reverence for Luther Vandross, and a full-throated celebration for Wu-Tang Clan. With 18 new inductees and a surprise finale from Run-DMC and Aerosmith, the Rock Hall’s class of 2026 covered five decades of music — and gave the television audience, when the edited show airs on 8 December, plenty to look forward to.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was the 2026 Rock Hall ceremony?

The ceremony took place on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Who was inducted in the performer category?

Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.

Why was Phil Collins’s speech so emotional?

Collins, 75, has battled significant health and mobility problems in recent years. He took the stage using two canes, did not perform, and cried at the huge ovation from a crowd that included his children.

Who inducted Luther Vandross?

Oprah Winfrey, whose presence was unannounced, inducted the late R&B singer, who died in 2005. Usher then performed a musical tribute.

When can the public watch the ceremony?

The edited ceremony airs as a three-hour special on ABC on Tuesday, 8 December, from 8–11pm ET, and streams on Disney+ and Hulu from Wednesday, 9 December.