Taylor Swift, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss, Tricky Stewart, Alanis Morissette, and Kenny Loggins have been selected as the 2026 inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Swift’s influence on contemporary pop music is undeniable and is expected to bring added attention to this year’s honorees.
Simmons and Stanley, the founders of Kiss, will be acknowledged for their contributions to glam rock with hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Love It Loud.” Other nominees joining Swift, Simmons, and Stanley this year are soft-rock legend Loggins, alt-rock icon Morissette, and R&B songwriter and producer Christopher (Tricky) Stewart known for his work on songs like Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.”
The induction ceremony for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame will take place on June 11 in New York City. The Hall recognizes both performers and non-performers, with this year’s non-performer honorees including the duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle known for Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
It is common for performers to be inducted after multiple nominations, as seen with Walter Afanasieff, who collaborated with Mariah Carey on “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman, Nile Rodgers, emphasized the importance of songwriters in the music industry, stating that everything in music originates from the song and its creator.
Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame recognizes individuals with significant song catalogs 20 years after their first commercial release. Previous inductees include Elton John, Brian Wilson, Carole King, and Paul Simon. The 2025 class featured artists like George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, and Ashley Gorley.