Taylor Swift, Kiss’s Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Tricky Stewart, Alanis Morissette, and Kenny Loggins have been announced as the 2026 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Swift’s influence on modern pop music trends is undeniable, and her presence is expected to bring added attention to this year’s honorees.
Founders of Kiss, Simmons, and Stanley, known for their glam rock hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Love It Loud,” will also be recognized. Other nominees for this year include soft-rock legend Loggins, known for songs like “Footloose” and “Danny’s Song,” alt-rock icon Morissette with hits like “You Oughta Know” and “Ironic,” and R&B songwriter and producer Tricky Stewart, famous for works like Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.”
The induction ceremony for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame is scheduled for June 11 in New York City. The Hall honors both performers and non-performers, with this year’s non-performer category including the duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, known for Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
It is not uncommon for performers to be inducted after multiple nominations. For instance, Walter Afanasieff, known for collaborating with Mariah Carey on “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” was previously nominated in the 2025 class but will now be inducted this year.
Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Nile Rodgers, highlighted the importance of songwriters in the music industry, emphasizing that everything in music stems from the song and its creator. He praised this year’s lineup for showcasing iconic songs and celebrating unity across various genres.
Established in 1969 to honor creators of popular music, the Songwriters Hall of Fame requires a songwriter to have a notable catalog of songs and be eligible for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Past inductees include Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, and many others. The 2025 class featured artists like George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, and Ashley Gorley.