Academy Museum Gala Announces Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter as 2026 Honorees

The Academy Museum’s 2026 gala, a major fundraising night, will take place on Oct. 17 and spotlight three honorees: Charlize Theron, who will receive the Icon Award; Colman Domingo, slated for the Vantage Award; and filmmaker John Carpenter, who will be presented with the Luminary Award. Co-chairs for the event are Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, while a host committee comprising Jessica Alba, Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann and numerous other celebrities will help run the program.

The museum’s director, Amy Homma, highlighted the ceremony’s role in celebrating artists who shape cinema’s cultural impact. Funds raised will underwrite the museum’s exhibitions, public screenings and educational initiatives. Theron will appear in a Mad Max: Fury Road screening, and Carpenter will host a three-night film series linked to the upcoming “The Horror Show” exhibition. The gala’s sponsors include Rolex and other founding supporters.