Celia Cruz Posthumously Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as Part of the Class of 2026

April 14, 2026

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officially announced its Class of 2026 on April 13, 2026, and among those honored is Celia Cruz, the legendary Cuban singer known as The Queen of Salsa. The posthumous recognition comes in the Early Influence Award category, given to artists whose musical style directly influenced the evolution of rock and roll.

The announcement was made live on Monday, April 13, during a special Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode of American Idol, broadcast on ABC and Disney+, with host Ryan Seacrest and 2022 inductee Lionel Richie. The Class of 2026 brings together 18 performers and music industry figures, including Oasis, Iron Maiden, Sade, Wu-Tang Clan, Phil Collins, and Luther Vandross in the Performer category.

The 41st annual induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, and will debut on ABC and Disney+ in December. Celia Cruz, born in Havana on October 21, 1925, and who passed away in New Jersey on July 16, 2003, becomes the first Cuban artist to receive this honor, cementing her place in the universal history of popular music.