Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026: Phil Collins in Tears as Travis Barker Inducts Him in Los Angeles

Phil Collins wiped away tears in Los Angeles on Saturday night as Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 class at the Peacock Theater. The ceremony, taped on 14 November 2026, gave Collins his second entry into the Hall — his first came with Genesis in 2010 — and turned into one of the most emotional nights in the institution’s recent history.

Collins, who has faced serious mobility problems in recent years, walked slowly to the stage using a pair of canes and cried as the crowd rose to applaud him. His daughter, actor Lily Collins, watched from the audience. Barker praised Collins for his rare double career as a drummer and a hit-making pop singer in the 1980s, then sat behind a drum kit himself and played the famous drum fill from “In the Air Tonight” while Cynthia Erivo delivered a slowed-down, powerful version of the song.

Collins Takes the Stage on Two Canes as Barker Plays the Famous Drum Fill

Collins did not perform during the ceremony. His health has kept him off stage since 2022, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 appearance was built around words and tributes rather than a set of his own. Barker, who introduced him, called “In the Air Tonight” home to arguably the greatest drum fill ever recorded, then proved the point by playing it live as Erivo sang.

The ovation lasted long enough for Collins to compose himself before he spoke. He told the crowd that they had not heard the last of him, a line that drew another cheer from a room full of fellow musicians. The moment mattered because Collins had already been in the Hall for 16 years as a member of Genesis; the solo induction placed him among the small group of artists honoured twice.

Barker’s own week added to the attention around the night. Days earlier, on the 11 November episode of the Big Bro With Kid Cudi podcast, he revealed that he had stopped smoking after doctors diagnosed him with precancer of the oesophagus. He said he had been smoking between 10 and 15 blunts a day and described the diagnosis as a warning that forced the change.

Oprah Winfrey’s Surprise Tribute to Luther Vandross

Oprah Winfrey arrived unannounced to induct the late Luther Vandross, who died in 2005 and entered the Hall as a first-time nominee in the performer category. Winfrey called Vandross the maestro of the love song and joked that he had once been correctly named the top artist people make love to. Usher then performed Vandross’s “Never Too Much” in tribute.

Vandross was one of the defining R&B voices of the 1980s and 1990s, and his induction closed a long wait for an artist whose fans had campaigned for the honour for years. The Rock Hall’s own announcement had listed him among three first-time nominees in the 2026 class, alongside Collins and Wu-Tang Clan.

Wu-Tang Clan Turn the Peacock Theater Into a Party

Wu-Tang Clan filled the stage with all 10 of its current members for an acceptance speech and a performance that had the crowd on its feet and dancing. The Staten Island collective, formed around RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa, with the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard among its founders, brought the loudest stretch of the night after the ceremony’s more reflective passages.

Queen Latifah was also honoured, entering the Hall with the Early Influence Award alongside MC Lyte, Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz. Latifah’s award recognised a career that moved from hip-hop into film and television, while the posthumous honours for Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz reached across country, Afrobeat and Latin music.

Three Big Names Stayed Away From Their Own Induction

Not every member of the 2026 class turned up. Oasis, Sade and Iron Maiden all skipped the ceremony, according to reports from the night, leaving their inductions to be marked without them on stage. Billy Idol, who did attend, and Joy Division/New Order completed the performer list of eight acts.

The absences were noted but did not overshadow the evening. The Rock Hall has long accepted that some inductees stay away, and the ceremony still had a full programme, with the Los Angeles venue hosting the event for a second straight year. Organisers have said the ceremony returns to the museum’s home base of Cleveland in 2027.

What the 2026 Class Means for the Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 class spans British rock, hip-hop, soul, post-punk and heavy metal, with pioneers honoured alongside arena acts. More than 1,200 artists, historians and music-industry professionals vote on the inductees, and artists become eligible 25 years after their first commercial recording.

The breadth of the list also reflects how the Hall now defines rock and roll. A hip-hop collective, an R&B crooner, a country-rock pioneer and an Afrobeat legend shared the same stage, and the night’s most talked-about moment belonged to a drummer turned pop star who could barely walk to the microphone. The edited ceremony will reach a wider audience when it airs on ABC and Disney+ in December.

Music fans who followed the Latin Grammys this week will recognise the same awards-season energy in Los Angeles, where Beto Montenegro made his red-carpet debut with Ana de Armas. The Rock Hall ceremony also continued a strong year for live music moments, much like the rise of Gracie Abrams, whose profile has grown alongside her relationship with Paul Mescal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 ceremony air on television?

The ceremony was taped on 14 November 2026 and was not streamed live. An edited version will debut on ABC and Disney+ in December 2026.

Who inducted Phil Collins into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026?

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker inducted Collins, praised his dual career as a drummer and pop singer, and then played the drum fill from “In the Air Tonight” while Cynthia Erivo sang the song.

Which 2026 inductees skipped the ceremony?

Oasis, Sade and Iron Maiden did not attend the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, according to reports from the night.

Who received the Early Influence Award in 2026?

Queen Latifah and MC Lyte received the Early Influence Award, along with posthumous honourees Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz.

Where will the 2027 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony be held?

The ceremony returns to Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum, in 2027 after two years in Los Angeles.