The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2026 on Saturday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, in a ceremony that stretched four and a half hours and was filmed for a December special on ABC. With several honorees absent, deceased or unable to attend, producers leaned on younger artists and surprise pairings to give each name its due.

The night opened with an unannounced set from U2, reunited with drummer Larry Mullen Jr., which performed "Silencio" from "Carnaval de Luz," the band's first full new album in nine years, alongside men costumed as riot police, before sliding into "Pride (In the Name of Love)." Aerosmith closed the show with "Walk This Way," bringing out Run-DMC midway through in a reprise of the reunion that capped Aerosmith's Hollywood Bowl comeback two weeks earlier.

Phil Collins, whose health struggles have long been public, took the stage with a cane and joked that his condition is "really not as bad as it looks." Cynthia Erivo and drummer Travis Barker then tore into "In the Air Tonight" in his honor. In the press room, Collins said that "in terms of playing live, I think my drumming days are probably done," explaining that his left knee was replaced five times before his kidneys and liver began failing. Even so, he called future shows "not beyond the realms of possibility" and said he hopes to write new music.

Oprah Winfrey honored the late Luther Vandross, saying he "never once over-sang a feeling," before Usher sang a medley of "Here and Now," "So Amazing" and "Never Too Much." With Sade absent, Sienna Spiro delivered "Smooth Operator." Oasis skipped the evening, but presenter Bob Odenkirk praised the band as "a dose of Viagra for the ego," and country artist Stephen Wilson Jr. played a stripped-down solo "Wonderwall." St. Vincent, joined by members of Metallica, rocked out for the absent Iron Maiden.

Neil Young inducted producer Rick Rubin with a 14-minute speech; Rubin answered with what amounted to the shortest acceptance in Hall history: "You can't kill rock 'n' roll." Since Rubin does not perform, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played "Give It Away" in long gray fake beards modeled on his own, recovering from an opening technical glitch.

Hip-hop carried much of the night. Remy Ma inducted MC Lyte, an Early Influence honoree who described herself as a "B-girl from Brooklyn looking for my chance to inspire and motivate a generation of people." Chris Rock presented Wu-Tang Clan, saying the group "didn't leave Staten Island, they took it with them." The collective's seven-song medley ran from "Triumph" to "Protect Ya Neck," after Inspectah Deck thanked dozens of supporters and joked, "I partied with Billy Idol." Producers finally cut the microphones as more members stepped up to speak.

Queen Latifah credited MC Lyte with proving her own path was possible and saluted Celia Cruz, the salsa great inducted posthumously this year, before closing her speech with Maya Angelou's line about moments that take our breath away. Latifah then performed "U.N.I.T.Y." and "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here" and teamed with MC Lyte, Megan Thee Stallion and Remy Ma for "Ladies First."

Peter Hook was the only member of Joy Division or New Order on hand, inducted by Trent Reznor. Hook recalled a final letter from Ian Curtis and said "Blue Monday" "still sounds like the future," then performed "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" with members of Deftones and Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry.

Billy Idol, presented by No Doubt's Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal, closed out the honoree segments. Stefani recalled hearing "Eyes Without a Face" on boom boxes at Huntington Beach in 1984. Idol urged young musicians to "go make the impossible possible" and shouted "Dream, baby, dream," vowing, "And now I'm gonna party with the Wu-Tang Clan!" He performed with Stefani and longtime guitarist Steve Stevens.