King Charles has greenlit the 2026 list honouring 1,157 people for charity, public service, arts, and sport, with Idris Elba receiving a knighthood for his anti-knife crime campaign and entertainment work.
Elba was knighted in the 2026 New Year Honours list, announced on Monday. Now officially ‘Sir IdrisElba,’ the 53-year-old actor was recognized primarily for his services to young people and his extensive charity work.
Ice skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean earn damehood and knighthood for their Olympic triumphs and children’s charities, while Labour MPs Anneliese Dodds and Jonathan Ashworth receive damehood and CBE for political service.
Though most awards go to unsung contributors like teachers and health workers, some criticized celebrity and political picks, and rugby fundraiser Kevin Sinfield missed a knighthood due to recent award protocol.
