British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden have officially made the cut for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Maiden‘s continued absence from the Rock Hall up until now had long been overseen as a glaring snub, one members of the band appear to have not taken kindly. In 2018, the band’s frontman Bruce Dickinson publicly disparaged the Hall. Their entry this year follows a pair of failed nominations in 2021 and 2023, both of which seemingly did little to endear the band to the idea of receiving the honor.
Still, after it was announced tonight, April 13th, that the group have made the cut for induction, their camp issued an official statement. The band’s longtime manager Rod Smallwood had the following to say on the band’s behalf tonight, following the reveal of the confirmation of their entry on tonight’s episode of ‘American Idol‘.
“We’d like to thank the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for including us (and former members who were all part of our story) in the 2026 roll call of inductees. Iron Maiden have always been about our relationship with our fans above anything else, including awards and industry accolades. However, having said that, it’s always nice to be recognised and honoured for any achievements within the music industry too!”
t also seems appropriate for the band to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year as we continue our 50th anniversary celebrations with our Run For Your Lives World Tour visiting the Americas and beyond. We would also like to congratulate our fellow 2026 inductees and extend our gratitude as ever to our fans for their loyalty, perseverance and support for over 50 years now! See you all, somewhere on tour.”
It’s been reported that Maiden accumulated some 395,000 fan votes amid their bid to enter the Rock Hall this year. Other artists set to join the Rock Hall this year include:
- Billy Idol
- Wu-Tang Clan
- Joy Division/New Order
- Oasis
- Phil Collins
- Sade
- Luther Vandross
This year’s list of nominees for induction also included The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, INXS and more, though those artists failed to make the cut. However, a number of other artists and more will also be making it into the Hall this year under the banner of specific merits. See below for that list.
Early Influence Award:
- Fela Kuti
- Queen Latifah
- Mc Lyte
- Gram Parsons
- Celia Cruz
Musical Excellence Award:
- Rick Rubin
- Linda Creed
- Arif Mardin
- Jimmy Miller
Ahmet Ertegun Award:
- Ed Sullivan
Metal and hard rock fans will likely be familiar with the works of the above-mentioned producer Rick Rubin, having overseen records from the likes of Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, System Of A Down, Slipknot, American Head Charge and numerous others.
An official ceremony for this year’s class set to be held in Los Angeles, CA on November 14th, with the event set to later broadcast in December on ABC & Disney+
