The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced that Glenn Close and Ridley Scott will receive honorary Oscars at the 2026 Governors Awards ceremony on November 15 in Los Angeles. [1, 2, 3, 4] Animator Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator, will also be honored for his work on films including Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, and Monsters Inc. [1, 2, 3] Producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for their work with Killer Films, which produced acclaimed titles such as Boys Don’t Cry and Past Lives. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Glenn Close has earned eight Oscar nominations over four decades but has never won a competitive Oscar. AMPAS praised her "unparalleled emotional range" bringing to life some of cinema’s most complex characters. [1, 2, 3, 4] Ridley Scott, nominated four times without a win, was described by the Academy as a "true visionary whose decades-long legacy has left an immeasurable impact on global cinema and culture." [1, 2, 3, 4]
At 90, Floyd Norman’s career broke barriers and inspired generations of animators, the Academy said. [3] Vachon and Koffler’s production company Killer Films is known for influential indie films like May December. [1, 2, 3]
Lynette Howell Taylor, AMPAS president, said the Board of Governors is "thrilled to present this year’s Governors Awards to five remarkable individuals whose groundbreaking work has forever shaped the art of filmmaking." [3]
The honorary Oscars will be presented at the Governors Awards ceremony on November 15, 2026, with coverage incorporated into the 99th Academy Awards telecast on March 14, 2027. Conan O’Brien is slated to host the Oscars broadcast. [1, 2, 3]
