A new set of honours celebrating LGBTQ+ achievement and allyship is set to launch next month, with six major cultural figures recognised as the first recipients of the 2026 Elton John Impact Awards.
The awards will debut on 1 June as a podcast series, distributed via the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms, alongside an audio special broadcast across iHeartRadio’s PRIDE stations.
Those being honoured span music, film, sport and activism. They include musicians Chappell Roan, Orville Peck and Melissa Etheridge; actors Jonathan Bailey and Laverne Cox; and tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King.
Developed by iHeartMedia in partnership with Procter & Gamble, the Elton John Impact Awards are designed to highlight individuals who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture, advanced equality or used their platforms to support the community. The series will be hosted by Billy Porter and iHeartRadio presenter Elvis Duran.
Each episode will feature in‑depth conversations with Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish - who chairs the Elton John AIDS Foundation - and the award recipients themselves. Singer and actor Dove Cameron will also appear, performing a special version of Elton John’s 1970 classic Your Song.
Speaking about the project, Elton John said the awards were rooted in the power of personal stories. He said bringing together voices from different generations of LGBTQ+ life was a reminder of both the progress made and the work still to be done, adding that these histories must be preserved and heard.
The Impact Award was first introduced in 2022 during Can’t Cancel Pride, a virtual fundraising event launched by iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble. Elton John was the first recipient, recognised for decades of campaigning on LGBTQ+ rights and the global fight against AIDS. Since then, the initiative has grown into a dedicated awards and podcast series, while Can’t Cancel Pride has raised more than $17 million for LGBTQ+ charities.
This year’s honourees have been selected for both cultural influence and activism. Jonathan Bailey has combined a successful acting career with charitable work through The Shameless Fund. Laverne Cox has been a pioneering figure for trans visibility in mainstream television. Melissa Etheridge has long blended music with outspoken advocacy. Billie Jean King’s influence stretches across sport, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. Orville Peck has reshaped country music through a queer lens, while Chappell Roan has emerged as a bold new voice championing LGBTQ+ and trans youth.
The awards will also drive financial support towards frontline organisations, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Additional funding will be distributed, in partnership with Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation, to groups such as GLAAD, the Trevor Project, SAGE, CenterLink and Outright International.
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