New Jersey Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

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The basics:

The New Jersey Hall of Fame announced its class of 2026 on June 25. The inductees span the worlds of entertainment, business, sports and more.

“The Class of 2026 showcases the diverse talent, resilience, and spirit of achievement that define the great state of New Jersey,” Jon Hanson, chairman of the Hall of Fame as well as The Hampshire Cos., said in a statement. “Each inductee, through their creativity, leadership, and pursuit of excellence, has made impactful contributions that continue to inspire future generations.”

Past honorees have included JBJ Soul Kitchen co-founder Dorothea Bongiovi; restaurateur and chef David Burke; Jersey Mike’s Subs founder Peter Cancro; actress Meryl Streep; former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber; and more than 250 other notable Garden State greats.

This spring, New Jerseyans were invited to vote from a slate of 60 candidates.

Save the date

This year’s inductees will be honored at the 18th Annual NJHOF Induction Ceremony Sept. 24 at the new 3,000-seat Dream Live Performing Arts Center at American Dream. The East Rutherford megamall is also home to the Hall of Fame’s $20 million Entertainment and Learning Center, which opened in June 2024.

Garden State native, actor, comedian and filmmaker Danny DeVito will once again host the annual event.

General admission ticket sales for the event will be announced later. As in years past, the Hall of Fame may also announce other inductees before the ceremony.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2026:

Arts & Letters

Big Joe Henry
New Jersey radio personality and philanthropist

Education, Research, Engineering & Science

Geraldine Dodge (posthumous)
Author, philanthropist and benefactor of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Thomas Eastwick
Founder and president of Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences

Enterprise

James Burke (posthumous)
Former CEO of Johnson & Johnson

Robert Garrett
CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health

Christopher Paladino
President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO)

Performing Arts & Entertainment

The Rascals
American rock band

SZA
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee

Public Service

Donald Milford Payne Sr. (posthumous)
New Jersey’s first African American elected to Congress

Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
Writer, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey’s 50th governor

Sports

John McMullen (posthumous)
Former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros

Lawrence Taylor
Former New York Giants linebacker

Unsung Hero

Tom Weatherall
President and CEO of Make-A-Wish New Jersey

“The New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 has made a lasting impact in their fields and serves as an inspiration to future generations,” added Gov. Mikie Sherrill. “I congratulate this outstanding class of inductees and thank them for their contributions to New Jersey and beyond.”