Rock Hall showcases treasures from 2026 inductees
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Outfits from Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz inside the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame's 2026 Inductee Exhibit. Photos: Troy Smith/Axios
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's induction ceremony is still a week away, but Cleveland fans are getting an early look at the museum's newest tribute to this year's honorees.
Why it matters: Monday's opening of the annual "Inductee Exhibit" kicks off a big month for the Rock Hall, culminating in the debut of its massive expansion and a free community day on Nov. 22.
State of play: The third-floor exhibition features artifacts representing all 18 members of the Rock Hall's 2026 induction class.
Zoom in: Highlights include the jacket MC Lyte wore to the 2006 "VH1 Hip Hop Honors," Billy Idol's jacket from Lollapalooza 2021 and one of Luther Vandross' custom Dior jackets.
- Instruments include Joy Division bassist Peter Hook's 1976 bass guitar, Gram Parsons' acoustic guitar, drumsticks used by Phil Collins with Genesis and a tambourine belonging to Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.
The intrigue: Just outside the main exhibition sits the "Wu-Tang Forever Time Capsule," a bright yellow vault filled with fan-submitted memorabilia celebrating the legendary hip-hop group.
- On the fourth floor, visitors can see two motorcycles: a 1994 Honda Fireblade featured in Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y." music video and Idol's 1985 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide.
The big picture: The exhibition opens ahead of the Nov. 14 induction ceremony at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater.
- The ceremony will air Dec. 8 on ABC.
What's next: Cuyahoga County residents can explore the exhibition for free during the Rock Hall's Nov. 22 community day.
- The event also marks the debut of the museum's 50,000-square-foot expansion, featuring a soaring glass atrium, new entrance, expanded educational and event spaces, and public gathering areas overlooking Lake Erie.