- - Cynthia Erivo, Ellie Goulding and Idris Elba Make the King’s Annual New Year Honors List

Escher WalcottDecember 30, 2025 at 2:40 AM

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Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo -

Cynthia Erivo, Ellie Goulding and Idris Elba are among the names set to be honored by King Charles in the 2026 New Years Honors List

While Wicked star Erivo and singer Goulding will each receive an MBE, Elba is going to be knighted, making him Sir Idris Elba

In a statement, per Sky News, Elba said: “I receive this honor on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition, and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation.

Cynthia Erivo and Idris Elba are among the big names included in King Charles’ 2026 New Year Honors List.

Erivo, 38, and Elba, 53, are being honored by the King, 77, in recognition of their achievements in the entertainment industry and their services to the community in a ceremony, it was announced on Monday, Dec. 29.

The 2026 New Year’s Honors list includes 1157 recipients from across various industries in the U.K. who will be awarded for their great achievements professionally and in supporting the community, per the official press release.

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Cynthia Erivo in 2024

Erivo will be honored with an MBE for services to Music and Drama. The Tony winner has had an impressive career, starting with her breakout role as Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple in 2013, and more recently starring in her Oscar-nominated role as Elphaba in the two Wicked films.

Elba is receiving a Knighthood for services to young people, after launching prominent campaigns for youth empowerment and anti-knife crime. The actor also co-founded Elba Hope Foundation with his wife, Sabrina Elba, a charity that supports diaspora communities and creates opportunities for them.

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King Charles and Idris Elba

Elba said in a statement per Sky News, “I receive this honor on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation. I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.”

The ethnic minority representation included in the 2026 New Year’s honors list has doubled from 7% from last year to 14% at NY26, per the release.

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Ellie Goulding at the 2025 Fashion Awards in London

Other names in entertainment included in the 2026 Honors list are Ellie Goulding, who is receiving an MBE for her work on Biodiversity and the Climate, British actress Meera Syal, who is receiving a Damehood, and author and television presenter Richard Osman for his services to literature and broadcasting.

Members of the England women's national football team are also being honored for their services to Association Football. England women’s team manager Sarina Wiegman is being given an honorary damehood and player Leah Williamson is receiving a CBE.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”